Disney CEO Bob Iger, Willow Bay to Buy Angel City Football Club

Bob Iger and Willow Bay attend the 95th Annual Academy Awards on March 12, 2023.

Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images

Willow Bay and her husband, Disney CEO Bob Iger, have entered into a definitive agreement to become owners of Angel City Football Club, the soccer club announced Tuesday.

As previously reported, Bay and Iger will acquire a controlling interest in Angel City Football Club for a value of $250 million, making the LA-based team the most valuable women’s sports team in the world. The couple will invest an additional $50 million “to support the club’s future growth.”

Bay, dean of the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, will serve on the ACFC Board of Directors and have full authority over it. He will also be the controlling owner of the National Women’s Soccer League, LLC and represent ACFC on the NWSL Board of Directors.

The transaction was unanimously approved by the ACFC Board of Directors and is expected to close within 30 to 60 days, subject to approval by the National Women’s Soccer League.

“Willow and Bob bring unparalleled operational experience, expertise and passion to ACFC and the NWSL. They are lifelong sports fans who have supported ACFC since the team’s inception. They are deeply committed to the Los Angeles community, having been residents, leaders and philanthropists in the city for nearly three decades and have a long track record of devoting their time and resources to supporting local Los Angeles organizations,” the ACFC board of directors said in a statement.

“We know they are the right partners to lead us into this new era – they are committed to further strengthening ACFC’s position as a leading organization and brand in women’s sports and championing the team’s broader mission, including advancing equality for athletes and women-founded businesses. With their leadership, we will continue to leverage the industry’s momentum and build on ACFC’s strong foundation of fan and community support,” they continued.

The women’s soccer club was founded in 2020 by Natalie Portman, venture capitalist Kara Nortman and entrepreneur Julie Uhrman, with a number of high-profile investors including Serena Williams, as well as America Ferrera, Jessica Chastain, Christina Aguilera, Billie Jean King, Jennifer Garner, Eva Longoria and Gabrielle Union. Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian was previously the team’s largest shareholder.

The team has prioritized majority female ownership and is pushing for gender and pay equality in women’s sports.