When Forbes listed the world’s most valuable women’s sports teams, surprisingly, WNBA franchises occupied the top five spots. However, while Forbes ensured that every team received its deserved recognition along with its owners, it missed one key detail.

All 12 WNBA teams were ranked among the top 25, with the New York Liberty topping the list at $400 million. They named the LA Sparks as the eighth most valuable women’s sports teams of 2025 with a valuation of $235 million. But they mistakenly listed Eric Holoman, the managing partner and governor of the franchise, as the owner of the team.

The real owner, Magic Johnson, couldn’t help but point it out.

“Forbes put out an article about the World’s Most Valuable Women’s Sports Teams on Dec. 17th, and on that was our Los Angeles Sparks", he said in a statement.

"They have Eric Holoman listed as the owner, but our majority owner of the Sparks is Mark Walter, and his partners include me, Todd Boehly, Robert Patton, Stan Kasten, and Billie Jean King. Mark Walter put Eric in place to manage the organization.”

Well, Johnson, along with Mark Walter, led the group that brought the franchise back from the WNBA in 2014. Ever since, the two have been managing the organization’s affairs. And now his efforts are bearing fruit, making the recognition all the more necessary.

That said, this isn’t the only asset owned by Johnson. After playing 13 seasons in the NBA, the Lakers icon ventured into sports team ownership. He now has stakes in the Washington Commanders, Los Angeles Dodgers, LA Sparks, and Los Angeles FC.

He’s even got several businesses across food, healthcare, entertainment, and real estate, contributing to his impressive net worth of $1.5 billion. So for someone of his stature, taking the issue to X was hardly surprising.

But What Happened Next?

Forbes initially published the article with Eric Holoman listed as the owner. But after Johnson pointed it out, Forbes made corrections. Now the LA Sparks ranks at No. 13, with a valuation of $235 million, listing Mark Walter as the owner, and reporting annual revenue of $16 million.

So, the efforts were worth it. While Johnson still hasn’t had his name added to the website as an owner, he certainly has every reason to celebrate the franchise’s upward trajectory.

Do you agree?

Written by

Yashika Dutta

Edited by

Joyita Das