Ownership shifts reshape iconic sports teams as pro leagues expand and valuations surge in 2025

Two major NBA franchises underwent ownership changes in 2025. In June, the Buss family entered a purchase agreement with Guggenheim Partners CEO Mark Walter for the Los Angeles Lakers, valuing the team at approximately $10 billion, a record for a U.S. professional sports team. While Walter gained majority ownership, the Buss family retained a minority stake, and Jeanie Buss continues to oversee the team's basketball operations and represent the franchise on the NBA board. In August, a Bill Chisholm-led investor group gained controlling interest in the Boston Celtics in a deal worth about $6.1 billion.

In Major League Baseball, real estate magnate Patrick Zalupski led an investment group that gained approval for a controlling interest in the Tampa Bay Rays after previous owner Stu Sternberg sought to sell. The deal, reportedly closed at $1.7 billion in September, came after Hurricane Milton severely damaged the Rays' home stadium, Tropicana Field, forcing the team to play 2025 home games at a New York Yankees spring training facility.

The year also saw significant expansion in women's professional sports. The growing popularity of the WNBA fueled plans for multiple new teams. In the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), an investment group headed by Robert Cohen paid an expansion fee to establish the Denver Summit, set to begin play in 2026 alongside another new franchise, the Boston Legacy, highlighting the growth in U.S. women's professional soccer.