CARY, N.C. (August 25, 2023) – Women’s professional tennis star Ons Jabeur has joined the North Carolina Courage as a minority owner, as approved by the National Women’s Soccer League and announced jointly by the club and Jabeur’s team on Friday.
Jabeur becomes the second professional tennis player to invest in the Courage alongside Naomi Osaka, who joined the club in 2021. Jabeur joins on the heels of a successful, substantial equity raise by the Courage earlier this year, continuing the momentum behind the club, NWSL, and women’s sports overall.
The capital is used to enhance the day-to-day experience of players, staff, and fans alike while also going towards long-term projects to grow the club’s brand. Jabeur’s reach will also help grow awareness and fandom of the Courage, both domestically and abroad.
“We’re honored to officially welcome Ons to our Courage family. She is a terrific fit for our organization as a world-class athlete, a visionary, and a true believer in the value and power of women’s soccer. Ons has proven to be a very successful businesswoman and her faith and trust in us is not something we take lightly. We look forward to a mutually beneficial partnership for years to come,” said Steve Malik, majority owner and chairperson of the North Carolina Courage.
Jabeur, who reached the world No. 2 ranking in 2022, is the highest-ranked and most accomplished African and Arab player in WTA and ATP history. She is one of the most popular players in tennis and is affectionately known by her nickname as “The Minister of Happiness.” Jabeur has a passion for both soccer and empowering women in sport, which led her to seek opportunities to get involved with NWSL clubs. Upon introduction to the North Carolina executive group, there was a clear alignment in values and belief on which to build a partnership.
“Soccer and female empowerment are my main passions outside of tennis. When Naomi took an equity stake in the Courage, I asked her if she would give me a starting position as a striker, but she said no… so I did the next best thing and become an owner. The Courage are the perfect club for me in terms of shared values and ambitions, both on and off the field,” Jabeur said.
Jabeur has been a professional tennis player since 2010. A four-time singles champion, she has reached the finals at Wimbledon each of the last two years and was a 2022 US Open finalist. She will be a favorite in this year’s Open as well, which begins on her 29th birthday, August 28.
