Melinda French Gates is throwing her hat into the hockey arena.
The philanthropist is set to become a minority investor in the Seattle Kraken, ESPN's Emily Kaplan reported on Monday.
She will join forces with majority owner Samantha Holloway, the Kraken's principal owner.
"I see this incredible opportunity that sports plays for a community to bring people together," French Gates told Kaplan. "When I met Samantha and learned about her leadership — her background in tech and the innovative way she approaches challenges — it felt like a natural fit for me."
Holloway assumed ownership of the Kraken after the death of her father and original Kraken owner David Bonderman in 2024, and is one of two female principal owners in the NHL. She created One Roof Sport and Entertainment in 2026, which is working to bring the NBA back to Seattle.
This is French Gates' first investment in a professional sports franchise.
"It's just time," French Gates said. "What you're seeing is a generation of women coming into their full power. I've walked into tough rooms, and being one of the few is very hard. Once we can create enough that we're one of many, it just gets easier."
French Gates is known for her philanthropic work and was married to Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates from 1994 to 2021.
