Magic Johnson joins Washington Spirit ownership group

NBA Hall of Famer Earvin “Magic” Johnson has joined the Washington Spirit’s investor group, team owner Michele Kang revealed on “CBS Mornings” on Thursday.

“Michele has a first-class organization in the Washington Spirit,” Johnson, who also appeared on the morning show, said. He pointed to her international aspirations as well. “I want to make sure that this sport, women’s soccer, can grow.”

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Johnson is not new to investing in sports teams, holding partial ownership of teams in multiple American sports. He’s also not new to investing in the Washington market, women’s sports or soccer. He holds partial ownership stakes in the Washington Commanders (NFL), Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA) and Los Angeles FC (MLS). He also has a partial ownership stake in MLB’s Los Angeles Dodgers and Team Liquid, an eSports franchise.

Johnson is an NBA icon (ranked No. 5 on The Athletic’s NBA 75), leading the Los Angeles Lakers to five titles and setting up a lengthy rivalry across the 1980s with the Boston Celtics.

“It is a great honor to welcome Earvin to the Washington Spirit today. From the basketball court to the boardroom, Earvin knows how to win, and we are delighted to count on his expertise as part of our fantastic investor group,” Kang said in the club’s release.

.@MagicJohnson is joining the ownership group of @WashSpirit.

Johnson and Michele Kang, the Spirit’s majority owner, tell CBS Mornings about championing women’s sports: “I want to make sure that this sport, women’s soccer, can grow.” pic.twitter.com/hzP8VRlkKs

— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) September 5, 2024

Johnson said he met Kang in Los Angeles — notable not just because of his multiple investments in L.A.-based teams, including LAFC — but because Kang secured his NWSL investment in the Spirit, not Angel City FC.

Kang also used the appearance on CBS to highlight the growth of the NWSL relative to the NBA, bringing up Johnson’s early days in the league when championship games might not even air live on television.

“(Johnson) shared with me about the transformation of the Lakers, how they turned a team into a winning team, shaped fan experiences, and how to transform a sports franchise into a lasting dynasty, which is exactly what we need and what we’re going through,” Kang said. “We’re probably slightly ahead relative to where the Lakers were back in ’79, but those lessons and wisdom and experiences are something that we just absolutely need.”

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“I got 14 world championships, I need 15 now,” Johnson joked Thursday. The Washington Spirit sit in second place on the NWSL table this season and pose one of the few threats remaining to the undefeated Orlando Pride.

Johnson will immediately launch into his introduction with the Spirit with an appearance at Ida B. Wells Middle School in Washington on Friday, and attend Saturday’s match against Portland Thorns FC at Audi Field. The game will also air on CBS.

Required reading

• Michele Kang’s global investment in women’s soccer on display with Arsenal, Chelsea friendlies
• Washington Spirit’s Trinity Rodman lauds new NWSL CBA for eliminating ‘blindside’ trades