Alexis Ohanian invests in Chelsea Women soccer team

In the United Kingdom, Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit and husband of tennis great Serena Williams, has significantly invested in women’s sports by acquiring a minority stake in Chelsea Women’s soccer team. This announcement surfaced on May 15, 2025, through Ohanian's social media, where he expressed pride in joining Chelsea FC Women as an investor and board member. He highlighted his commitment to elevating the visibility and respect for women’s soccer, emphasizing that the investment is not merely about winning titles, but ensuring that women's talent is met with appropriate resources and recognition. Ohanian's investment amounts to an 8% ownership, translating to more than 20 million pounds, which values the team at approximately 245 million pounds, marking Chelsea Women as the most valuable women's team globally. This move is seen as a continuation of Ohanian’s dedication to supporting women's sports, previously evidenced by his investment in Angel City, an NWSL club, from which he was the largest shareholder before its sale in 2024. Chelsea Women, renowned as the most successful team in the Women's Super League, has clinched their sixth consecutive league title, aiming for a domestic treble by competing in the FA Cup final against their rivals, Manchester United. Ohanian plans to be in attendance at this pivotal match, which underlines his personal involvement and commitment to the team's success. His belief in the team's capabilities was evident in his statements about the players rewriting the game, indicating that their undefeated season and aspirations for a treble are monumental achievements in women’s sports. Following a change in ownership structure, Chelsea Women became part of the BlueCo consortium, led by Todd Boehly, in June 2024, signaling a robust investment strategy towards enhancing women's soccer. The club appointed Aki Mandhar as its inaugural CEO, indicating a shift aimed at repositioning the team's prominence in women's sports. Ohanian highlighted the importance of Mandhar’s leadership qualities and commitment to excellence as significant factors in his investment decision. His substantial financial input is expected to help propel Chelsea Women to greater heights, ultimately aspiring to make them a favorite team in the United States and beyond. Ohanian is optimistic that his investment will bring about the necessary change in visibility and resources for women's sports as they continue to grow in stature and popularity.