Fortune 500 CEO Thasunda Brown Duckett Becomes Investor In WNBA’s New York Liberty
TIAA President and CEO Thasunda Brown Duckett has joined the WNBA’s New York Liberty as an investor. Other celebrities with minority stakes in the team include Jack Ma, Karen Finerman, Karlie Kloss, Gabrielle Rubenstein, and Samantha Lasry; however, Duckett is the only Black investor on the list.
“Sports has made a profound impact in my life. It taught me grit, perseverance, teamwork and resilience. To be an investor in women’s sports and the NY Liberty franchise is truly an impact moment,” Duckett said in an Instagram post.
Duckett joins the WNBA’s New York Liberty
New York Liberty owners, Clara Wu Tsai and her husband, Joe Tsai, sold shares in the WNBA team at a record valuation of $450 million for a women’s pro sports franchise, according to The Athletic. The funds are thought to be part of a fundraising effort aimed at building a new practice facility.
Liberty players and WNBA All-Stars Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, and Sabrina Ionescu have achieved a league-best 32-8 record in the 2024 regular season and won the WNBA Championship in a thrilling five-game finals series.
“We are pleased to welcome Jack, Karen, Thasunda, Karlie, Gabrielle, and Samantha to the New York Liberty family,” Governor Clara Wu Tsai said in a press release. “We are fortunate to partner with these entrepreneurs and leaders whose exceptional achievements span technology, finance, business, and culture. They bring unique perspectives to our organization and share our deep commitment to advancing women’s sports.”
About Thasunda Brown Duckett
There are still only two Black female CEOs leading Fortune 500 companies, and Duckett is one of them. She joined TIAA as CEO in 2021, following a 17-year career at JP Morgan Chase, where she held key executive roles, including CEO of the Consumer Bank and Auto Finance.
She was the Director of Emerging Markets at Fannie Mae. Duckett has served on several boards, including Nike, Inc., Brex Inc., Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, Sesame Workshop, and the National Medal of Honor Museum.
Image: Philip Vukelich
