Commanders' Bobby Wagner joins Seattle Storm ownership as WNBA momentum builds

New York Times

4 days ago

Washington Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner's legacy in Seattle lives on. The Seattle Storm shared on Wednesday that the former Seattle Seahawks star will join their ownership group.
'I'm really excited to be a part of the WNBA,' Wagner said. 'I think it's a great time. I've always watched from afar, being in Seattle, so I'm really excited to be a part of the growth and stay connected to a community that I still love.'
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Wagner, a six-time first-team All-Pro, was drafted in the second round by the Seahawks in 2012 and spent 10 seasons with the organization, playing a key role in helping the team win Super Bowl XLVIII. Wagner last played for the Seahawks in 2023.
The Storm was recently valued at $325 million, according to Bloomberg.
'Bobby is a hometown hero who has had an immeasurable impact on the Seattle community,' Storm co-owner Lisa Brummel said in a statement. 'He shares our desire to grow the game and knows the value and importance of investing in women's sports. As we continue to build on the incredible legacy of the Storm franchise, we are excited to add Bobby's experience and expertise to the mix.'
In recent years, many former athletes have gotten involved in ownership groups in the WNBA.
Tom Brady purchased a stake in the Las Vegas Aces in March 2023. Retired NBA superstar and Chicago native Dwyane Wade joined the Chicago Sky's ownership group in 2023. After Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore won their arbitration case against former Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx owner Glen Taylor, Rodriguez joins the group of former athletes with ownership stakes in WNBA franchises and will act as governor of the Lynx.
Former Atlanta Dream guard Renee Montgomery became the first former WNBA player to become an owner and executive of a franchise when she invested in the Dream. Women's basketball legend and longtime Storm player Sue Bird joined the team's ownership group in August 2024.
However, one of the original former athletes to invest in the WNBA is Magic Johnson, who has served as co-owner of the Los Angeles Sparks since 2014.
Wagner, who called Johnson a 'mentor' of his, said he ran the idea of joining the Storm's ownership by Johnson.
'He was a huge help because he's done it at a very high level,' Wagner said Wednesday during the Commanders' training camp.
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The rise in former athletes getting involved in ownership reflects the league's growth. The WNBA is set to enter a new 11-year, $2.2 billion TV deal, which will take effect next season. Expansion is also on the horizon.
The Golden State Valkyries are in their inaugural season, and the newly-branded Portland Fire are set to join in 2026. Last month, the WNBA granted expansion teams to Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia, which will take the league to a record 18 franchises by 2030.
The teams reportedly paid a $250 million expansion fee, a league source told The Athletic's Ben Pickman.
According to WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, national TV viewership is up 23 percent, attendance is up 26 percent and merchandise sales are up 40 percent.
While the league is experiencing unprecedented growth, players and the league are working to reach a new collective bargaining agreement. Conversations have been described as 'spirited' and 'constructive.'
Players who competed in the All-Star Game last weekend donned shirts with the phrase 'Pay Us What You Owe Us,' referring to their demand for higher salaries in the new CBA. Engelbert also wants to see a 'significant increase' in player salaries and benefits.