Alexis Ohanian, husband to tennis superstar Serena Williams, has embarked on a transformative journey since exiting Reddit in 2020. His recent efforts, particularly in women’s sports, are set to take the stage at the upcoming Web Summit Qatar, where he will lead a session titled “Why the creator of Reddit’s next big bet is women’s sports,” showcasing his significant contributions to the field.
Upon resigning from Reddit, the platform he co-founded in 2005, Ohanian swiftly redirected his focus to advocate for women’s sports, an arena that he recognized as underappreciated.
One of his early initiatives post-Reddit was his role as a lead investor in Angel City Football Club (ACFC), a pioneering team in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), which he co-founded with notable personalities like Natalie Portman, Kara Nortman, and Julie Uhrman. Their mission is to elevate and promote women’s soccer in the United States.
Under Ohanian’s ownership, ACFC gained substantial traction, attracting a $50 million investment from Disney CEO Bob Iger and his wife Willow Bay, which elevated the club’s valuation to $250 million, making it the most valuable women’s sports team in the world by July 2024.
Ohanian further extended his influence in sports entertainment by co-producing “The Offseason,” a reality show focused on the NWSL, which premiered in October 2024. The series provided audiences with an intimate glimpse into the lives of 11 female players, amassing over 180 million views and celebrating the dedication and camaraderie of women’s athletics.
Demonstrating his unwavering commitment, Ohanian also established Athlos, a women’s-only track and field event. The inaugural Athlos NYC meet took place on September 26, 2024, at Icahn Stadium, offering a substantial prize purse exceeding $500,000. Top athletes like Olympic champion Gabby Thomas and world record holder Faith Kipyegon participated, attracting 3 million viewers across various platforms, including ESPN and YouTube.
As the Web Summit Qatar approaches, the 41-year-old reflected publicly on his journey since 2020, sharing his milestones:
“I stepped back from Reddit in 2020… And stepped into founding control owner to launch Angel City FC. Then produced Off Season reality show (100M views!). Then set records Athlos (3M viewers for our debut event; record-breaking prize). And still on the starting line.”
Connecting Reddit’s Growth to Women’s Sports
Ohanian has drawn parallels between the challenges he faced during Reddit’s early years and the current landscape for women’s sports. Recently, Katelin Holloway, founding partner at Ohanian’s venture capital firm, tweeted about the essential role of sports fandom in fostering community and empathy. Her insights highlighted how sports can serve as a bridge for connection in today’s world.
“The more I experience the fandom of sport, the more I understand why this is a critical pillar of culture. Belongingness is a shortcut to friendship and intimacy, which breeds trust and empathy,” Holloway shared.
In response, Ohanian shifted the focus back to women’s sports, echoing his experience in building Reddit:
“It’s like we’re building @reddit all over again in women’s soccer, golf, women’s track…” he remarked.
In addition, Ohanian recently disclosed his reasons for not investing in a WNBA team, despite his wife’s enthusiasm for the league.
