The business of building
Ownership stakes, founder stories, athlete development platforms, player-led media and the financial choices reshaping life in the W.
Chamique Holdsclaw
UPSHOT announced on Sept. 21, 2026 that Holdsclaw joined the league as an investor, adding her decades of women’s basketball experience to the ownership group as the league prepares for Baltimore and Nashville in 2027. The league’s own announcement framed the move around creating more professional opportunities for women.
The W’s new money era
ESPN checked in with players across the league as the 2026 CBA’s larger salaries reached their bank accounts. The story runs from celebratory purchases to 401(k)s, real estate, business plans and long-term financial strategy.
Napheesa Collier + Breanna Stewart
Collier and Stewart co-founded Unrivaled, a player-centered professional 3-on-3 league that created a domestic offseason option for WNBA players.
A’ja Wilson
Wilson and her mother, Eva, launched Burnt Wax, building a fragrance business around scent, memory and storytelling.
Angel Reese
Reese became the first announced member of DC Power Football Club’s ownership group, investing in a professional women’s soccer team rooted in the DMV.
Sabrina Ionescu
Ionescu joined Bay FC as an investor and commercial advisor in 2025, bringing her athlete perspective to the NWSL club’s brand and business strategy.
Paige Bueckers
Bueckers became an Unrivaled investor as she entered the WNBA, extending her connection to the league from athlete to equity holder.
Courtney Williams + Natisha Hiedeman
The StudBudz turned candid livestreams, partnership content and merchandise into a distinct player-led media brand built around friendship and authenticity.
Aliyah Boston
Boston co-hosts Post Moves with Candace Parker, creating a weekly media platform for basketball conversation and off-court stories.
Kelsey Plum
Plum and Under Armour built Dawg Class into a recurring training and mentorship platform that helps elite college guards prepare for the professional game.