Three-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka has revealed that her decision to become part-owner of soccer team North Carolina Courage was influenced by Serena Williams, Billie Jean King and her boyfriend.
On Thursday, Osaka announced the investment with the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) club planning to tap into her passion for fashion by consulting her on 2021 design decisions.
According to the US Open champion, such a commitment, which she had noticed other sportspeople made, is really cool.
She is currently in Melbourne ahead of the Australian Open.
Osaka spoke of her inspiration from Billie Jean King, the tennis legend who has stakes in several sports teams, including baseball’s Los Angeles Dodgers.
"Billie Jean King texts me sometimes, so I was getting inspired from her,” she said.
Osaka also referred to Serena's daughter's investment in a soccer team.
She said, “I remember reading in an article that Serena’s daughter invested in a soccer team, too. I thought that maybe that’s a really good direction to go. As for choosing North Carolina, it’s because I visited there a couple times because of my boyfriend’s family, and he was born there.”
In 2020, Forbes magazine ranked Osaka the world’s highest paid female athlete, making her the first Asian player to be in such a position.
She won the 2018 US Open which placed her in the spotlight and followed it up with her win at the 2019 Australian Open ahead of her third Slam title in Flushing Meadow last year.
Williams and actresses Eva Longoria, Natalie Portman, Jennifer Garner and Jessica Chastain among the ownership group of Angel City FC in Los Angeles, a 2022 NWSL expansion club.
Speaking about North Carolina Courage, Osaka said, “The biggest thing I’m excited about, I really want to try to train with them.”
"I think it’s always really fun to train with different athletes and see what they’re better than me at.
I feel like definitely I’ll be able to go down there and watch a couple of games," she added.
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