Former Milwaukee Bucks owner Marc Lasry nears purchase of NWSL’s North Carolina Courage at a $108M valuation

Former Milwaukee Bucks owner Marc Lasry is nearing a deal to buy a control stake in the NWSL‘s North Carolina Courage from Steve Malik at a roughly $108 million valuation, Sportico reports.

Lasry has long shown interest in purchasing a stake in the NWSL, with the report noting that he's previously expressed interest in the Seattle Reign, and was in contention alongside Disney CEO Bob Iger and wife Willow Bay before the duo became the controlling owners of Angel City earlier this year.

Winners of the 2018 and 2019 NWSL championships, the Courage became an immediate powerhouse after their founding in 2017. However, they have since become one of the lowest revenue earners in the league, per the report. Lasry, the Courage and the NWSL declined to comment to Sportico.

Lasry proposes to take on a 60 percent stake as principal owner, with the remaining 40 percent shared by minority owners, including four-time Grand Slam tennis champion Naomi Osaka.

The deal would be subject to board approval. Per Forbes, Lasry is valued at $1.9 billion.

Lasry sold a 25 pecent stake in the Bucks franchise in 2023, per Forbes. At the time of the sale, the NBA team was valued at $3.5 billion.

NC are back in action this weekend when they travel to Lynn Family Stadium to take on Racing Louisville in NWSL action. Currently fifth in the league standings, the Courage will look to build on their five-point lead over sitxh-place Portland, while closing on on fourth-place KC Current.