Jimmy Butler has bought a minority stake in the San Diego Wave, who compete in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). The 36-year-old NBA star, famously nicknamed “Jimmy Buckets” for his fierce competitiveness, has revealed he wants to help “build something lasting” in the women’s game.
A slam dunk for soccer
A six-time NBA All-Star, Olympic gold medalist, and one of the league’s most admired competitors, Butler has spent 14 seasons leaving everything on the court for teams like the Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphia 76ers, and Miami Heat. After his February trade to the Golden State Warriors, he now begins his 15th season in the NBA. One might wonder why a Texas-born basketball star who’s played in Miami, Chicago, and Philadelphia is now investing in the Wave rather than a Bay Area team like Bay FC. The reason is that Butler owns a property just outside San Diego, and believes it's the perfect club for him to make an impact with.
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Butler first fell in love with the sport during the 2016 Rio Olympics, where he attended the men’s final and watched Neymar’s Brazil capture gold. That spark turned into a full-blown obsession. Since then, he’s become close friends with stars like Lionel Messi, Vinícius Junior, Paul Pogba, and Neymar himself, all of whom have been spotted sitting courtside at his NBA games over the years.
"Soccer has been a passion of mine for a long time, and being part of the game in a meaningful way has always been a dream,” Butler said after the announcement. "San Diego has become a city close to my heart, and I’m proud to invest in a Club that is pushing boundaries, building something lasting, and setting a new standard for what women’s sports can be both on and off the pitch."
Butler now joins an elite ownership circle at the Wave that already includes USWNT legend Alex Morgan, who is a former club captain and became a minority investor earlier this year.
Lauren Leichtman, the club’s controlling owner, welcomed Butler with enthusiasm: “Jimmy is a competitor and visionary who shares our values and our ambition to grow this club. He brings a global perspective, a deep respect for the athlete’s journey, and a creative spirit that perfectly complements what we are building here at Wave FC.”
Butler was spotted at the FIFA Club World Cup showdown between Botafogo and Paris Saint-Germain at Pasadena’s Rose Bowl Stadium earlier this year.
Speaking to FIFA during that event, Butler praised the growth of the game in the United States. "I’m super excited. I think football, soccer here in this county, is on the way up," Butler said. "All the best players are coming here to build their brands and show their faces. It’s just going to give our youth another thing, another goal, another dream to reach for. I love it. As everybody knows, it's definitely my favourite sport, I’m just not that good at it. But for the youth, for football in America, this is huge."
He want on to announce his favourite club as Paris Saint-Germain. "I love PSG, as I’m sure the world knows, so I’m glad that I’m able to be here and support," Butler added. "It’s big for the United States, it’s big for L.A. I’m happy to be here and support … it’s so much different in person. You get to come here and watch some high-level football being played."
Getty ImagesButler’s entrepreneurial mindset
Butler’s link to Brazil and South American football is evident. That might explain his particular excitement about Dudinha, San Diego’s dazzling 20-year-old Brazilian forward. She has become an instant sensation, scoring twice and assisting another in the Wave’s emphatic 6–1 victory over Chicago last weekend to clinch a playoff berth. However, the San Diego investment isn’t Butler’s first business venture. The NBA star also founded BIGFACE, a coffee lifestyle brand that gained viral fame during the NBA bubble in 2020 when he started selling $20 cups of coffee to fellow players.
Getty Images SportA legacy in the making
Butler’s arrival at the San Diego Wave FC is more than just another celebrity endorsement. It’s about building a legacy, not just in basketball, but in culture. He’s investing in a vision where women’s football gets the respect and growth it deserves. Their next match is against the KC Current on November 2 in the NWSL playoffs.