The WNBA and NBA approved the sale of the Atlanta Dream, officials said on Friday, ending the litigation of former US Senator Kelly Loeffler.
The Georgia Republican criticized the WNBA’s efforts to raise awareness of social justice issues and the Black Lives Matter movement, prompting players on her own team to campaign for Raphael Warnock, the man who ended up beating Loeffler in the second round of the Senate last month.
The WNBA and NBA boards “unanimously approved the sale of the Atlanta Dream” to a group of investors led by Northland real estate president Larry Gottesdiener, Suzanne Abair COO and former Dream star Renee Montgomery, according to league officials.
“With the unanimous votes of the WNBA and the NBA, today marks a new start for the Atlanta Dream organization and we are delighted to welcome Larry Gottesdiener and Suzanne Abair to the WNBA,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert in a communicated.
“I admire his passion for women’s basketball, but more importantly, I was impressed by his values. I am also excited that Renee Montgomery, a former WNBA star, joined the group as an investor and executive on the team. Renee is a pioneer who has made a big impact on the game and beyond. “
Montgomery is now the first ex-WNBA player to become an owner.
“My dream has come true,” Montgomery said in a statement. “Breaking down barriers for minorities and women by being the first ex-WNBA player to have a stake in the property and a leadership role with the team is an opportunity that I take very seriously.”
Loeffler, who held a 49 percent stake in the women’s basketball team, said he was opposed to the league joining the Black Lives Matter movement, even as millions of Americans protested systemic racism last summer.
The players said Loeffler’s opinions were far from coinciding with a league in which almost 70 percent of the players are black. When Loeffler publicly resisted the protests, Dream and other WNBA players saw an opportunity to make their voices heard, especially at the polls.
Many even wore “Vote Warnock” t-shirts while warming up before the game.
“We did it the best we knew how,” Los Angeles Sparks star and president of the players union, Nneka Ogwumike, told NBC News earlier this month. “And that was asking people who knew what they were doing and we were just listening. It is what is needed, and bringing our voice to the table where we feel it is necessary. “
In a joint statement on Friday, co-owners Loeffler and Mary Brock said they were proud of their 10 years in charge, calling the Dream “an important asset for a vibrant and diverse city.”
“It was also important for us to help level the playing field for women’s professional sports,” they said. “We are proud of what we have achieved and wish the team the best in its next chapter. We will always value hard work and dedication, and the memories, fans and friendships that have sustained our commitment to the Atlanta Dream over the past decade. ”
Randi Richardson contributed.