Sabrina Ionescu still remembers the early-morning drills at Miramonte High School in Orinda, where she first believed her dreams could take her to the highest levels of basketball.
Now, after winning a WNBA championship with the New York Liberty and emerging as one of the league’s biggest stars, she has returned to her Bay Area roots in a new role. This time, she’s not just an athlete. She’s an owner.
“I am excited to join Bay FC as an investor and commercial advisor for the latest NWSL team,” Ionescu said in a recent statement. “I have full faith in the club’s vision and its potential to make a profound impact within and beyond women’s soccer.”
Her decision brings another high-profile figure to an NWSL franchise that has already drawn a devoted following. Bay FC is only in its second year, yet it sold out its first home opener in San Jose. Now, with Ionescu on board, it aims to capture even more hearts across the region.
A new chapter in the Bay?
Brady Stewart, Bay FC’s CEO, praised the star guard’s ability to connect with fans while expanding commercial opportunities. “Sabrina is the ultimate innovator and creates new pathways for aspiring and current professional athletes. Adding her passion and vision to what we are building at Bay FC will allow us to further disrupt the sports landscape.”
Ionescu’s role goes well beyond financial backing. She wants to build relationships with players, explore brand endorsements, and channel her connections with sponsors like Nike to support Bay FC athletes. “That was a big part of it for me, I want to invest, but I want it to be more than just transactional,” she told ESPN.
For Ionescu, returning to the Bay Area is personal. She spent her teenage years here, refining her gritty approach to basketball, which would eventually lead her to the University of Oregon and then the WNBA. Now, her imprint reaches beyond hoops. She was the first women’s basketball player to launch a unisex signature shoe line with Nike, a move that reflected her insistence on opening up access to every kind of athlete.
Her success story resonates with those who have seen her as a bridge between different sports. By joining Bay FC, she stands alongside owners like Andre Iguodala, Shaun Livingston, and Andrew Luck, who bring deep ties to the Bay Area’s proud sports culture.
When asked about entering ownership early in her career, Ionescu admitted it was overwhelming. “When I sit back and think about how young I am and how fast everything has come, it is pretty crazy,” she told the Athletic. “But to be able to impact a franchise, that is pretty special.”
For Bay FC, it’s another sign that women’s soccer has arrived at a pivotal moment. Fans are already flocking to PayPal Park in San Jose, and with Ionescu’s backing, the club plans to strengthen its place on the national stage.
It’s an ambitious goal, and Ionescu wouldn’t have it any other way.
