Minnesota Lynx facing ownership changes with playoffs looming

August 25, 2026

Source: Photo by Ezra Shaw via Getty Images

The GIST: Last Friday, Marc Stad became the most recent billionaire to buy a sports team. The venture capitalist (VC) is now the controlling owner of both the Minnesota Lynx and Timberwolves. There’s plenty of speculation about what this can do for the T-Wolves when the NBA tips off in October, but we’re curious about the new ownership right now.

Good news for fans of the Electric Slide is that an in-season change shouldn’t affect the WNBA–leading squad with the playoffs just five games (and an international break) away. Still, billion-dollar moves can’t mean nothing so let’s boogie, woogie woogie into this newest front office shake up.

The context: If this sale is ringing some bells it’s because the previous majority owners, Marc Lore and MLB legend Alex Rodriguez, spent four years trying to complete this exact transaction. The phased $1.5B buyout began in 2021 before turning into a lengthy legal battle that ultimately ended in Lore and Rodriguez acquiring 100% ownership. Messy.

Lore, who spent just 14 months in charge after 50 months of pursuing the teams, has now sold his majority stake — although he will stay with the organization as a minority investor — with Rodriguez increasing his ownership stake and Stad becoming the new controlling owner.

The moves: The biggest change is happening off the court — Marc’s wife Elisa Stad was named governor of the Timberwolves. With the LA Lakers’ Jeanie Buss’ seat in flux, Stad is one of two current women NBA governors along with Gayle Benson of the New Orleans Pelicans.

In both the NBA and the WNBA — where Rodriguez will remain governor of the Lynx — the position serves as the primary representative of their team and votes on league matters, including collective bargaining agreements.

Zooming out: Lore’s financial moves mirror what happened in the Lakers recent sale when previous owner Mark Walter cashed out after just 10 months in charge. The thread tying the two transactions was a massive jump in valuation over a very short period of time — the Lakers price grew $2.5B during Walter’s tenure and the Minnesota teams are now valued at $4.5B.

With massive media deals and the wild growth of the WNBA, team ownership in 2026 is feeling a little like flipping houses, but the value these teams are generating YoY is a trend that more VC and billionaire sharks will be eager to sink their teeth into. Watch this space.