The WNBA and NBA have approved the sale of the Atlanta Dream, officials said Friday, ending the controversial ownership of former U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler.
The Republican from Georgia was critical of the WNBA’s efforts to address social justice issues and the Black Lives Matter movement, which asked players from its own team to campaign for Raphael Warnock, the man Loeffler eventually met in a Senate election in the Senate last month.
The boards of the WNBA and NBA ‘unanimously approved the sale of the Atlanta Dream to an investor group led by Northland real estate chairman Larry Gottesdiener, chief operating officer Suzanne Abair and former Dream star Renee Montgomery, according to league officials.
“With the unanimous WNBA and NBA votes, today is a fresh start for the Atlanta Dream organization and we are very pleased to welcome Larry Gottesdiener and Suzanne Abair to the WNBA,” said Cathy Engelbert, WNBA Commissioner, said in a statement.
‘I admire their passion for women’s basketball, but more importantly, was impressed by their values. I am also delighted that former WNBA star Renee Montgomery will join the ownership as an investor and executive for the team. Renee is a pioneer who has made a huge impact in the game as well as after. ‘
Montgomery is now the first former WNBA player to become owner.
“My dream has come true,” Montgomery said in a statement. “Breaking barriers for minorities and women by being the first former WNBA player to have both an interest in ownership and a leadership role on the team is an opportunity I take very seriously.”
Loeffler, who had a 49 percent share in the women’s basketball team, said she opposed the league’s embrace of the Black Lives Matter movement, even though millions of Americans protested against systemic racism last summer.
According to players, Loeffler’s view was far out of step with a league in which nearly 70 percent of the players are black. When Loeffler made demonstrations, Dream and other WNBA players saw an opening to make their voices heard, especially at the ballot box.
Many even wore ‘Vote Warnock’ shirts during pre-match warm-ups.
“We did it in the best way we knew,” Nneka Ogwumike, president of the Los Angeles Sparks and the players’ union, told NBC News earlier this month. ‘And that was by asking people who know what they’re doing, and we just have to listen. This is what is needed, and we bring our voice to the table where we feel it is needed. ”
In a joint statement Friday, co-owners Loeffler and Mary Brock said they were proud of their ten years of management, 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 female professional sports,” they said. “We are proud of what we have accomplished and wish the team well in their next chapter. We will always remember the hard work and dedication and the memories, fans and friendships that have sustained our dedication to the Atlanta Dream over the past decade. appreciate.”
Randi Richardson contributed.