Sports World Sees Big Changes in Teams and Ownership in 2025
The year 2025 has been a time of significant shifts in the world of professional sports, with several major teams changing hands and leagues expanding to new cities. These changes signal a continued evolution of the sports landscape, driven by growing fan interest and new investment.
NBA’s Lakers and Celtics See Ownership Changes
One of the most notable events of the year was the change in ownership of two of the NBA’s most iconic franchises. In Los Angeles, the Lakers, a team steeped in history and championships, saw a new majority owner step in. Mark Walter, the CEO of Guggenheim Partners, reached an agreement with the Buss family to purchase the team for approximately $10 billion. While Walter now holds the majority stake, the Buss family remains involved, retaining a minority stake, and Jeanie Buss continues to represent the Lakers on the NBA’s board. The agreement also ensures that Buss will continue to oversee the team’s basketball operations for the foreseeable future.
Meanwhile, on the East Coast, the Boston Celtics, fresh off their record-breaking 18th NBA championship win in 2024, also experienced a change in leadership. An investor group led by Bill Chisholm secured controlling interest in the team in a deal valued at around $6.1 billion.
MLB’s Rays Find New Owner
In Major League Baseball, the Tampa Bay Rays also welcomed a new face at the top. Real estate businessman Patrick Zalupski and his investors were approved to have controlling interest in the Rays after Stu Sternberg decided to sell the MLB club. The deal to purchase the Rays was closed at a reported $1.7 billion in September.
Women’s Sports Leagues Expand
The growth of women’s sports continued to be a major theme in 2025. The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) announced the addition of multiple expansion teams. Denver was awarded its first NWSL team, named the Denver Summit, which will begin playing in 2026. Another expansion team, the Boston Legacy, is also scheduled to join the league in 2026. In November, the NWSL further announced that Atlanta would be getting a team in 2028, owned by Arthur Blank, who also owns the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL.
The WNBA is also planning for expansion, with Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia all in line to become home to new teams. These additions will bring the league to a total of 18 teams by the year 2030. The Cleveland team will be owned by Dan Gilbert’s Rock Entertainment Group, which also owns the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Connecticut Sun’s Future in Question
The future of the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun, however, remains uncertain. An investment group led by Steve Pagliuca, a minority owner of the Celtics, reportedly reached an agreement with the Mohegan Tribe, the current owners of the Sun, to relocate the team to Boston. However, the WNBA has stated that relocation decisions are the responsibility of the league’s Board of Governors, not individual teams. Several options are being considered for the franchise, including a league-led purchase, a relocation to Hartford backed by Marc Lasry, or a partial sale approved by the WNBA.
2025 has proven to be a dynamic year for professional sports, marked by significant changes in team ownership and league expansion. These developments reflect the growing popularity and value of sports, as well as the ongoing evolution of the sports landscape. As these new teams and owners settle in, it will be interesting to see how they shape the future of their respective leagues and the broader world of sports.
