Valerie Daniels-Carter, Trailblazing Black Woman Owner of Milwaukee Bucks, Empowers Team with Basketball Passion and Entrepreneurial Community Vision

In a sports world where ownership remains predominantly white and male, Valerie Daniels-Carter stands tall as a groundbreaking exception. As the only single Black woman owner of the Milwaukee Bucks, her story of entrepreneurial success, community empowerment, and basketball passion is a powerful example of representation and impact at the highest level of professional sports.

Daniels-Carter, a Milwaukee native and former collegiate basketball player, co-founded Partners for Community Impact (PCI), the group that made headlines when it became minority owners of the Bucks in 2014. PCI, comprised of five African American investors including Daniels-Carter, was brought in during a pivotal transition period when hedge fund billionaires Wes Edens and Marc Lasry purchased the team.

But Daniels-Carter’s role is more than symbolic ownership. Her investment comes with a deep sense of responsibility — to her city, to the game she loves, and to the future generations who will see her as a beacon of what’s possible.

From Basketball Player to Business Powerhouse

Long before she became an NBA team owner, Valerie Daniels-Carter was making waves on the court. As a standout guard for Lincoln University, an HBCU in Missouri, she honed the tenacity and leadership that would later define her business and philanthropic ventures.

After college, Daniels-Carter returned home to Milwaukee and began working in finance. But her entrepreneurial spirit could not be contained. In 1982, alongside her brother, she purchased a single Burger King franchise. Over the decades, that single investment blossomed into V&J Holding Companies, one of the largest African American-owned restaurant corporations in the U.S., with over 100 franchises across brands like Pizza Hut, Auntie Anne’s, and The Coffee Beanery.

Now, Daniels-Carter brings that same energy and acumen to the NBA boardroom, and she’s not merely satisfied with having a seat at the table. She wants to transform it.

A Different Kind of Ownership

While most NBA owners stay in the background, rarely interacting with players beyond occasional events, Daniels-Carter is known for her hands-on encouragement. She attends games frequently, offers words of support in the locker room, and builds relationships with players beyond the court.

“She knows what it means to work hard, to grind it out, and to lead,” said a Bucks player who requested anonymity. “You can feel her presence, and it means a lot, especially to younger guys or players of color.”

Her involvement sends a powerful message — that ownership isn’t just about money. It’s about vision, values, and showing up.

“She played the game. She knows the game. She respects what we do,” Bucks star Khris Middleton said in a recent interview. “That makes her different from most other owners.”

Partners for Community Impact: A Mission-Driven Coalition

Daniels-Carter co-founded PCI with other prominent Milwaukee Black leaders: Dr. Eve M. Hall, Cory Nettles, Michael Barber, and Virgis Colbert. Their shared mission wasn’t just about acquiring a stake in a sports franchise. It was about leveraging that investment to promote social and economic justice in Milwaukee.

Through PCI, Daniels-Carter helps fund youth education programs, promote diversity in business, and support local economic development initiatives, particularly in underserved Black and brown neighborhoods.

“Our ownership stake allows us to be intentional about representation and reinvestment,” Daniels-Carter said at a public event in 2023. “The Bucks are a symbol of excellence, but they must also be a symbol of equity.”

Inspiration for the Next Generation

Representation matters, especially in high-visibility industries like professional sports. Daniels-Carter understands that her presence in NBA ownership isn’t just historic — it’s revolutionary.

“When little girls see me — especially little Black girls — I want them to understand they can do this too,” she said. “You can love sports, play sports, and then own the team one day.”

She routinely speaks to youth groups, HBCU students, and young entrepreneurs, sharing her story and encouraging them to dream big. For Daniels-Carter, being an owner is not an end goal but a launching pad for change.

A Legacy Rooted in Milwaukee

Even as her influence expands nationally, Daniels-Carter’s heart remains in Milwaukee. She continues to base her businesses in the city, contributes to local churches and nonprofit boards, and serves as a role model for civic leadership.

In 2021, when the Bucks won their first NBA Championship in 50 years, Daniels-Carter was right there, not just celebrating, but reflecting.

“That championship was more than a title,” she said. “It was a symbol of how far Milwaukee has come and how far we still need to go. It reminded us what’s possible when community, business, and sports intersect.”

The Road Ahead

As the Bucks look to remain contenders in a post-Giannis era — assuming the superstar eventually departs or retires — Daniels-Carter sees the team’s ownership group as more important than ever. Stability, values-based leadership, and community connection are all pillars she believes will keep the team rooted in success.

She has also hinted that PCI is interested in broader investments across sports and entertainment, with a focus on ventures that align with economic empowerment and cultural inclusion.

“Ownership isn’t just about having equity. It’s about having voice and vision,” Daniels-Carter says. “And I intend to use mine.”

In Valerie Daniels-Carter, the Milwaukee Bucks have a part-owner whose contributions go far beyond courtside appearances. Her journey — from college basketball player to entrepreneur to NBA team owner — is emblematic of Black excellence and women’s leadership in spaces long dominated by others.

She embodies the belief that true impact comes not just from financial power but from purposeful engagement, unwavering faith, and an unrelenting commitment to community.

Whether she’s motivating Bucks players behind the scenes or launching the next franchise business, Daniels-Carter continues to change the game — one play, one investment, and one life at a time.

As she often says: “We’re not just building businesses. We’re building legacies.”