Virginia Women’s Basketball Scores Historic Gift from Alex Ohanian
The Virginia women’s basketball program just got a major boost, thanks to what the school is calling a “multi-year transformational gift” from entrepreneur and philanthropist Alex Ohanian. This isn’t just any donation—it’s the largest in the program’s history, and it’s set to change the game for the Cavaliers in a big way.
Ohanian, who’s widely known as the co-founder of Reddit and husband to tennis icon Serena Williams, has long been a champion of women’s sports. He’s also one of the founding investors in Angel City FC, a team in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). But what makes this gift even more personal is Ohanian’s connection to the University of Virginia—he’s an alumnus, having graduated in 2005. Now, he’s giving back to his alma mater in a way that could redefine the future of its women’s basketball program.
A Game-Changing Gift
While the exact dollar amount of Ohanian’s donation hasn’t been disclosed, the impact is already clear. According to the school, the gift will help position Virginia as “a premier destination for female student-athletes while addressing the financial and competitive demands of this new era of college athletics.” In other words, this isn’t just about keeping the lights on—it’s about elevating the program to elite status.
“Starting Angel City and seeing the wave of investment in women’s sports really has been inspiring,” Ohanian told ESPN. “Women’s basketball has popped up constantly on my radar, and lots of folks have been asking me about it.”
Ohanian’s passion for women’s sports isn’t new. He’s been vocal about the untapped potential in this space for years. He pointed out that back in 2019, it cost around $1 million to buy an expansion team in the NWSL. Fast forward to July 2023, and the controlling stake in Angel City FC was sold to Willow Bay and Disney CEO Bob Iger at a staggering $250 million valuation. That’s a 250x increase in just a few years.
“There was an under-investment in women’s sports, but also a mindset that it was not about excellence or business returns, it was about ‘charity,’” Ohanian said. “The curse of those low expectations really hampered the growth.”
From Frustration to Action
Ohanian’s commitment to women’s sports was further solidified during the infamous “weight room debacle” at the 2021 NCAA women’s basketball tournament. Then-Oregon player Sedona Prince exposed the stark disparity between the men’s and women’s facilities on social media, sparking widespread outrage. The men’s tournament in Indianapolis featured a state-of-the-art weight room, while the women’s tournament in San Antonio had just a few small stacks of weights.
“I was like, ‘This makes no sense to me,’” Ohanian said. “The talent had been there in the women’s game. And if you looked on the Internet, at places like Instagram, at the follower counts, the interest was there. This said to me that the women just needed more investment and promotion.”
Virginia’s Vision for the Future
Virginia head coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton couldn’t be more thrilled about Ohanian’s support. She first learned of his interest from Cavaliers athletic director Carla Williams. Ohanian later attended Virginia’s season-opener against American on Nov. 4 at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, where he was impressed by the energy and atmosphere.
“I’m just really grateful he believes in his alma mater and our athletic department,” Agugua-Hamilton told ESPN. “He believes in Carla, me, and the players.”
For Agugua-Hamilton, this gift is nothing short of transformative. “This is game-changing for us. The purpose of the gift is to help allow us to recruit and retain student-athletes and put ourselves in position to be an elite team. We’ve been elite before. We’re still going to operate with high integrity, do things the right way. But this allows us the financial means to kind of level the playing field.”
A Legacy of Excellence
Virginia’s women’s basketball program has a storied history. Under coach Debbie Ryan, the Cavaliers were one of the top programs in the nation from the late 1980s into the 1990s. They made 20 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances from 1984 to 2003, including three straight trips to the Final Four from 1990 to 1992. Those teams were led by point guard Dawn Staley, who has since become a coaching legend in her own right, winning three national championships with South Carolina.
Agugua-Hamilton, now in her third season with Virginia, is determined to bring the program back to its former glory. The Cavaliers are currently 6-5 and battling through injuries, but she remains optimistic. “We’re dealing with some injuries and trying to get people back, but we’re going to turn things around this season,” she said. “I always say progress is a process, and this gift will help with that now and long-term.”
Inspiring a Movement
Ohanian hopes his donation will inspire others to step up and support women’s sports. “Look, I’m quite a groupie of women’s sports, and I’m proud to be that,” he said. “Yes, I have two daughters, and I want them to have great role models. But that’s not all this is. I love believing in things when maybe not as many other people do. I think it’s why I’ve had success in my life as an early-stage investor.”
He added, “You see today’s women’s athletes are hungry, they’re motivated. People are realizing why women’s sports are so compelling and worth investment. It makes business sense.”
With Ohanian’s support, Virginia women’s basketball is poised to make a major comeback. And who knows? This could be the spark that ignites a new era of investment and growth in women’s sports across the board.
Originally Written by: Mechelle Voepel
