The Ultimate Playbook: How Alexis Ohanian Turned Trollish Doubts into Triumphant Victories for Women's Sports

There’s a certain kind of satisfaction, isn't there, in proving the doubters wrong? And truly, when you've got the receipts — literal screenshots of the snarky comments — it makes the victory just that much sweeter. For Alexis Ohanian, the co-founder of Reddit and a venture capitalist with a keen eye, this isn't just a hypothetical; it's become a very public, very delightful playbook.

You see, a few years back, Ohanian decided to put his considerable financial backing and, dare I say, his conviction, behind women's soccer. Specifically, he poured a hefty $100 million into the National Women's Soccer League's (NWSL) Angel City FC. Now, for some, this was a bold, perhaps even foolhardy, move. And oh, the internet, in its infinite wisdom, wasted no time in making its opinions known. Trolls emerged from every corner of the digital landscape, mocking his investment, questioning the viability of women's sports as a serious business venture. "A waste," they'd type. "No real audience," others would quip.

But Ohanian, it turns out, is a man who not only plays the long game but also possesses an elephantine memory—or at least, a very well-organized screenshot folder. He didn't just ignore the naysayers; no, he filed away their dismissive remarks. And honestly, who could blame him? When you’re pushing for something you believe in, something genuinely transformative, and face that kind of unearned cynicism, well, it sticks with you. So, he kept those "receipts," as he calls them.

Fast forward to today, and the landscape, my friends, looks decidedly different. Angel City FC, and indeed women's sports in general, are absolutely thriving. Viewership is soaring, sponsorships are pouring in, and — crucially — the revenue milestones are stacking up. And what does Ohanian do with each new marker of success? He revisits his archives. Each time the club hits another significant financial benchmark, he does something beautifully simple yet utterly devastating: he tags the original trolls.

It’s a masterclass in elegant vindication, truly. No need for long, defensive essays. Just a quiet, powerful "I told you so," delivered with the undeniable weight of cold, hard data. It’s a silent, but incredibly loud, mic drop. He’s not just proving them wrong; he's celebrating a paradigm shift, isn't he? Showing the world, quite tangibly, that investing in women's sports isn't just some noble, feel-good gesture. It's smart business, a lucrative frontier that too many dismissed out of hand.

Ohanian, through his venture firm Seven Seven Six, has consistently championed this vision, highlighting that the economic potential of women’s sports has been historically undervalued. And you could say, perhaps, that the trolls' early skepticism only fueled his resolve. Because in truth, this isn't merely about personal triumph; it's about shifting a societal perception, proving that talent, dedication, and yes, profitability, aren't confined by gender. And for once, the scoreboard isn't just about goals on the field; it’s about the resounding success of a truly visionary investment.