WNBA's Mystics Gets the First Black Female Owner

[CrimsonTide4]

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WASHINGTON (AP) -- Former television executive Sheila Johnson became the WNBA's first black female owner Tuesday when she joined a group that purchased the Washington Mystics.

Johnson, co-founder of Black Entertainment Television, became a part-owner of Lincoln Holdings LLC, which purchased the Mystics from Abe Pollin's Washington Sports & Entertainment. Lincoln Holdings, founded by AOL executive Ted Leonsis, owns the NHL's Washington Capitals and is a 45-percent partner in the NBA's Washington Wizards and MCI Center, which Pollin also owns.

The Mystics said Johnson is believed to be the first black woman to be a part-owner of three professional sports franchises. Johnson's stake in Lincoln Holdings is between 5 and 10 percent.

``We think it's time for an African-American woman to own a WNBA team,'' Pollin said. ``We sought her out, we think she's perfect to run a team.''

Her former husband, Robert L. Johnson, who co-founded BET with Johnson, is the owner of the Charlotte Bobcats of the NBA. The two divorced in 2002.

Sheila Johnson, who lives about 50 miles from Washington, is the director of the Washington International Horse Show, which is held annually at MCI Center.

``I hope that this is a signal that it's about time that a woman, and an African-American woman, is part of this whole scene of sports,'' Johnson said.