Avenue Sports Fund has taken an equity stake in the NWSL franchise The North Carolina Courage. The investment places a private‑equity player alongside chairman Steve Malik and head coach Mak Lind, signaling growing financial interest in women’s professional soccer. Details of the transaction size were not disclosed, but the move adds a new source of capital for the club’s expansion plans.

The Courage, founded in 2017 and already a two‑time league champion, has been seeking additional funding to bolster its roster and enhance stadium amenities at WakeMed Soccer Park. Avenue Sports Fund, known for backing niche sports assets, aims to leverage its expertise to grow the team’s brand value and explore new revenue streams such as media rights and sponsorships.

For investors, the deal illustrates how private capital is beginning to view women’s soccer as a viable growth market rather than a niche entertainment product. By aligning with an established champion, Avenue Sports Fund positions itself to benefit from the league’s projected audience expansion and potential franchise valuation uplift, offering a clearer path to returns on a sport traditionally under‑financed.