The board of governors of the WNBA and NBA has unanimously approved the sale of the Atlanta Dream to a three-person group of investors, the team said on Friday.
Investors include the chairman of Northland real estate group Larry Gottesdiener, Northland president and COO Suzzane Abair and former dream star Renee Montgomery.
Former US Senator Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) Is no longer an owner.
Last summer, co-owner Loeffler stood against the social justice message that the WNBA sought to promote throughout its season, calling the Black Lives Matter movement an anti-Semitic group based on Marxist principles. Their comments prompted them to immediately sell the team.
“With the unanimous WNBA and NBA votes, today marks a fresh start for the Atlanta Dream organization and we are delighted to welcome Larry Gottesdiener and Suzanne Abair to the WNBA,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert in a team statement . “I admire her passion for women’s basketball, but most of all I am impressed by her values. I’m also thrilled that former WNBA star Renee Montgomery is joining the group of owners as an investor and executive on the team. Renee is a trailblazer who has made a huge impact both in the game and beyond. “
Montgomery played her final two seasons in the WNBA for the Dream and announced her retirement after her eleven-year career in February. She pulled out of the 2020 season to focus on social justice reforms.
Montgomery becomes the first former player to own and manage a WNBA team
“My dream has come true,” said Renee Montgomery. “Breaking barriers for minorities and women by becoming the first former WNBA player to have both involvement and leadership on the team is an opportunity I take very seriously. I invite you to join me as the dream builds up in Atlanta! “
Founded in 2007, Dream has qualified eight times for the WNBA playoffs and reached the WNBA final three times.
Contact Analis Bailey at [email protected] or on Twitter @analisbailey.
