NBA Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle Becomes Minority Owner of CT United Soccer Club

The 21-year-old San Antonio Spurs guard is one of the youngest professional athletes to join an ownership group in another sport.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 10:05am

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Stephon Castle, the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year, has become a minority owner of CT United, a new soccer franchise in Major League Soccer's developmental second division. The 21-year-old San Antonio Spurs guard was approached by CT United's majority owner, Andre Swanston, to join the ownership group due to Castle's connection to Connecticut, where he won an NCAA championship in 2024. Castle, who is one of the few Black minority owners in North American professional sports, sees the investment as a way to stay connected to the state and build relationships with the team's young players.

Why it matters

Castle's investment in CT United is noteworthy as professional athletes, especially young stars like himself, are increasingly looking to own stakes in teams and brands outside of their primary sport. It also highlights the lack of diversity in team ownership across major North American leagues, with Swanston being one of the few Black majority owners in U.S. pro sports history.

The details

Castle, a 6-foot-6 guard, was finishing his rookie season with the San Antonio Spurs last spring when his agent and father presented him with the opportunity to join the ownership group of the new CT United soccer franchise. Swanston, the majority owner, wanted Castle on board due to the player's connection to Connecticut, where he won an NCAA championship in 2024. By December, Castle's Spurs teammates, many of them soccer fans, learned of their point guard's new role as a minority owner.

  • In the spring of 2025, Castle's agent and father approached him about the CT United investment opportunity.
  • In December 2025, Castle's Spurs teammates found out about his minority ownership of CT United.

The players

Stephon Castle

The 21-year-old NBA Rookie of the Year who plays for the San Antonio Spurs and has become a minority owner of the new CT United soccer franchise.

Andre Swanston

The 44-year-old majority owner of CT United, one of the few Black majority team owners in U.S. pro sports history.

Joe Smith

Stephon Castle's agent who presented him with the CT United investment opportunity.

Stacey Castle

Stephon Castle's father, who was involved in discussions about his son joining the CT United ownership group.

Ali Curtis

The president of MLS Next Pro, the league's developmental second division, who was impressed by Swanston's ambition and confidence in launching CT United.

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What they’re saying

“Everything kind of happened fast from there.”

— Stephon Castle

“We got a lot of soccer fans on our team, so it started some trash talk, kind of instantly.”

— Stephon Castle

“To show that we can be the first team to actually grow from within the Major League Soccer ecosystem from an academy team to a minor league team to major league team is, I think, earning it in a way that no one else can say they've ever done.”

— Andre Swanston, Majority Owner, CT United

“As a person of color, you don't always meet a prospect that is also a person of color that is going to be a potential owner within the league.”

— Ali Curtis, President, MLS Next Pro

“I wouldn't say that was a sole reason why I think I made that decision, but it definitely played a factor for sure.”

— Stephon Castle

What’s next

As CT United begins its inaugural season in MLS Next Pro, the team will look to prove itself worthy of eventually joining Major League Soccer's top division. Stephon Castle plans to stay involved with the club and build relationships with the young players, though his focus remains on helping the San Antonio Spurs make a deep playoff run.

The takeaway

Stephon Castle's investment in CT United highlights the growing trend of professional athletes, even young stars on rookie contracts, looking to own stakes in teams and brands outside of their primary sport. It also shines a light on the lack of diversity in team ownership across North American pro sports, with Swanston being one of the few Black majority owners in U.S. history.