Angel City Co-Founder Claims WSL Clubs Treated as Afterthoughts by Owners
Kara Nortman, co-founder of the women’s sports investment fund Monarch Collective and Angel City FC, has criticized the treatment of many Women’s Super League (WSL) clubs by their owners, describing them as mere afterthoughts. In a recent interview, Nortman highlighted that while Monarch has engaged in discussions with approximately a dozen English clubs, finding the right partnership has been challenging due to a lack of genuine commitment from existing owners. She noted that some owners view women's teams primarily as tools for complying with profitability regulations rather than entities worthy of significant investment. Monarch Collective, which recently acquired a minority stake in the Cleveland WNBA franchise and holds interests in NWSL teams and German club Viktoria Berlin, remains interested in expanding into England. Nortman emphasized that successful partnerships require owners who are either fully committed to growing the women's game or openly seeking help to improve neglected teams. Despite previous talks with clubs like West Ham, no deals have been finalized yet, though Monarch possesses the financial resources and expertise to support ambitious WSL projects if the strategic alignment is correct.
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Angel City Co-Founder Claims WSL Clubs Treated as Afterthoughts by Owners
Kara Nortman, co-founder of the women’s sports investment fund Monarch Collective and Angel City FC, has criticized the treatment of many Women’s Super League (WSL) clubs by their owners, describing them as mere afterthoughts. In a recent interview, Nortman highlighted that while Monarch has engaged in discussions with approximately a dozen English clubs, finding the right partnership has been challenging due to a lack of genuine commitment from existing owners. She noted that some owners view women's teams primarily as tools for complying with profitability regulations rather than entities worthy of significant investment. Monarch Collective, which recently acquired a minority stake in the Cleveland WNBA franchise and holds interests in NWSL teams and German club Viktoria Berlin, remains interested in expanding into England. Nortman emphasized that successful partnerships require owners who are either fully committed to growing the women's game or openly seeking help to improve neglected teams. Despite previous talks with clubs like West Ham, no deals have been finalized yet, though Monarch possesses the financial resources and expertise to support ambitious WSL projects if the strategic alignment is correct.
The Guardian