Aliyah Boston Is Latest WNBA Player to Invest in NWSL Team

Aliyah Boston is buying an undisclosed stake in the NWSL’s Boston Legacy FC, the team said Monday.

The news was announced—where else?—in Boston as the Indiana Fever forward awaits the WNBA’s second-ever game at TD Garden. The Fever play the Connecticut Sun in Boston on Tuesday night.

The NWSL team’s primary ownership is an all-women group led by Jennifer Epstein—founder of Juno Equity—and backed by an investment group that includes three-time Olympic gold medalist Aly Raisman, actress Elizabeth Banks, and Celtics GM Brad Stevens and his wife, Tracy. 

July 15 was also declared Aliyah Boston Day in the city of Boston. 

“I’m proud to join the ownership group of the Boston Legacy,” Boston said in a statement shared by the club. “This city helped raise me, and the support I felt here shaped so much of who I am. I couldn’t be more excited to have the opportunity to invest into a franchise that’s building something special for its players, for the city, and for women’s sports as a whole.”

The three-time All-Star grew up in Massachusetts and played high school basketball at Worcester Academy where she was named Gatorade Player of the Year three times. She won two state championships, and her jersey was the first to be retired by the school in 2024. 

“Aliyah’s investment in our club demonstrates the strength of women’s sports as our two leagues—the WNBA and NWSL—continue to grow and expand,” Epstein said. 

Boston joins a list of WNBA players past and present who have become owners, including New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu, who is an investor in Bay FC. Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese bought a stake in the DC Power Football Club, part of the USL Super League, last year. Retired WNBA players who are investors in professional sports teams include Candace Parker, Sue Bird, and Renee Montgomery. 

Boston’s teammate, 2024 Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark, was part of an ownership group bidding to bring an NWSL team to Cincinnati, which lost out to Denver for an expansion slot. 

Boston Legacy FC will play its inaugural season at Gillette Stadium after a protracted legal battle before moving to its permanent home, White Stadium, in 2027. The club announced its first head coach, Filipa Patão, in June, with several player signings following later this summer.