American football legend Tom Brady, 45, has bought a partial stake in reigning WNBA champions the Las Vegas Aces.
Brady, widely regarded as the best quarterback of all time, retired this February after 23 seasons with the New England Patriots and the Tampa Buccaneers, during which he won a record 7 Super Bowls and was named NFL's MVP three times.
"I'm excited to announce I'm going to become part of the Las Vegas Aces organisation," said Brady on Thursday.
"I grew up with three older sisters, they were all incredible athletes in their own right, they were role models to me, it's where my love of women's sports began. I tagged along, I was the annoying little brother at all of their games, and they were the best athletes in our house and they're still a great inspiration to me."
"I admire all the work the Aces' players and staff and what the WNBA continues to do to grow the sport and to empower the future generations of female athletes, one of whom I have in my own family, and I'm ready to contribute in any way possible as a member of such a great organisation, what an honour!"
Majority owner Mark Davis, who also owns the NFL team Las Vegas Raiders, called the deal a "win for women's professional sports."
The Las Vegas Aces reached the WNBA finals twice before last year's triumph, losing to Detroit in 2008 and Seattle in 2020. Their 2022 victory was Las Vegas's first professional sports championship. Head coach Becky Hammon, hired in 2021, is the highest-paid coach in the WNBA and the first whose contract exceeds $1 million.
The deal is pending league approval.
