Commanders Vet Makes History Landing WNBA Ownership

As Bobby Wagner gears up for another season with the Washington Commanders, the NFL linebacker has reportedly gotten involved with an off-field venture.

Wagner is one of the newest minority owners of the WNBA’s Seattle Storm.

According to Sports Business Journal, Wagner is one of three recent partners to invest in the Storm. The other two investors have not been revealed as of Wednesday afternoon.

Last month, the Storm’s franchise was reportedly valued at $325 million. It’s unclear how much Wagner invested.

Although Wagner is currently located in Washington DC, playing through his stint with the Commanders, the 35-year-old linebacker is a prominent figure out in Seattle.

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Back in 2012, Wagner wrapped up a run at Utah State and was a projected second-round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. Wagner was called on by the Seattle Seahawks and became the 47th overall pick.

For most of Wagner’s career, he played for the Seahawks. He was a full-time starter during his first season and maintained that position up until 2022. Following a decade run with the Seahawks, Wagner was released.

Once the veteran hit the open market, he was offered a five-year, $65 million contract with the Los Angeles Rams. He shockingly played in just one season. Wagner wrapped up his Rams tenure with 17 games played. He racked up 140 tackles and six sacks.

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When the Rams reached the offseason, they released Wagner, leading him back to free agency, where he made a return to Seattle for a second stint.

After leading the NFL with 183 tackles and 3.5 sacks, Wagner hit the free agency market and signed with the Commanders ahead of the 2024 NFL season. Last year, Wagner started all 17 games and produced 132 tackles and two sacks. Although Wagner’s initial contract with the Commanders was for one season, he re-signed on a one-year deal back in March. The veteran is slated to make a reported $9.5 million this year.

With nearly 2,000 tackles and 40 sacks, Wagner has established himself as one of the top players at his position since he entered the NFL in 2012. The journey is still going for the veteran leader, but he’s been working on life after football. Taking on a role with the Storm is a major move, as the WNBA has been growing at a rapid pace.

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