Valerie Daniels-Carter, a minority owner of the Milwaukee Bucks, has been a sports enthusiast since her childhood days in Milwaukee.
Reflecting on the city’s basketball history, she recalls the electrifying moment when Kareem Abdul-Jabbar led the Bucks to their first NBA championship in 1971, describing it as a unifying experience for the city.
Daniels-Carter, one of just three Black female minority owners in the NBA, alongside actress Jada Pinkett Smith and BET co-founder Sheila Johnson, has a deep-rooted connection to sports.
From playing collegiate basketball at Lincoln University to her current role as president of V&J Foods, Holding Companies, she has consistently been involved in sports-related ventures.
In an interview with The Undefeated ahead of Game 5 of the NBA Finals between the Bucks and the Phoenix Suns in 2021, Daniels-Carter shared insights into her journey, upbringing, and the significance of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
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Reflecting on her childhood in Milwaukee, she acknowledges the challenges of living in a segregated city but emphasizes the values instilled in her by her family and community. Recalling the Bucks’ championship win in 1971, she highlights the long-awaited victory for the city and the unifying spirit it brought.
Addressing the 50-year championship drought since then, Daniels-Carter expresses the collective anticipation and excitement surrounding the Bucks’ recent success.
“We’ve had a couple successes, but we haven’t had just the real NBA championship experience. And so for the Bucks to bring that to the city of Milwaukee, and in the fashion that they brought it: We’ve got a team of young men that have integrity, they’re respected, they’re engaging, they’re part of the community, they give back, they’re concerned about, not just who they are, but how they embrace others,” she said.
Discussing her collegiate experience at Lincoln University, Daniels-Carter emphasizes the importance of HBCUs in nurturing talent and fostering a supportive community. She credits her alma mater for shaping her journey and instilling values of resilience and camaraderie.
Transitioning from entrepreneurship to sports ownership, Daniels-Carter reflects on her journey, from founding V&J Foods to forming Partners for Community Impact, an investment collective that purchased a stake in the Bucks.
“I started V&J Foods in 1982 as I was working on my master’s degree and started the groundwork in ’82, opened my first restaurant in 1984, had what I believe to be the proper steps for entrepreneurs to be successful. I had a good base, a good foundation. I had a support system in my family. And I tell people this all the time, you need some type of support system, because as you operate and navigate through this world, there are going to be so many pressures and so many challenges, you need to be able to reach out and touch somebody that believes in you,” she told The Undefeated.
Daniels-Carter remains open to future opportunities in sports ownership, guided by her faith and determination. She emphasizes the importance of representation and inclusivity in sports leadership roles, emphasizing the need for diverse voices at the table.
As International Women’s Month celebrates the achievements and contributions of women, Valerie Daniels-Carter’s story stands as a testament to perseverance, leadership, and the power of diversity in sports ownership.
