Seattle Sounders and Carlyle Finalize $58 Million Acquisition of Seattle Reign

The Seattle Sounders and investment firm Carlyle have finalized their acquisition of the Seattle Reign, a National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) team, for $58 million from OL Groupe. This sale, approved by both NWSL and MLS boards, brings Seattle's top men's and women's soccer teams under the same ownership for the first time since 2019. Sounders owner Adrian Hanauer will serve as the Reign’s governor on the NWSL board, with Carlyle’s Alex Popov as the alternate governor. The Reign, which has struggled this season, will benefit from a women-led management team, including chief business officer Maya Mendoza-Exstrom. The new ownership aims to leverage the Sounders' success to enhance the Reign’s presence and impact in Seattle.