Congressional Committee Presses Wizards Owner to Cut Alibaba Ties
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a sharply worded letter obtained by the Associated Press, Rep. John Moolenaar (R‑MI), chair of the House Select Committee on China, demanded that Ted Leonsis, the billionaire proprietor of the Washington Wizards and Capitals, confirm the immediate termination of all existing and future business relationships with Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.
“I would appreciate your confirmation that Monumental Sports & Entertainment will discontinue or has already discontinued any ongoing business relationship with Alibaba and its affiliates,” the letter read. Moolenaar set a deadline of July 15 for a response, citing the Department of Defense’s recent designation of Alibaba as a Chinese military company, a label that signals the firm’s involvement in China’s “military‑civil fusion” program.
The Pentagon’s move, announced last month, placed Alibaba on a list of 188 entities believed to support the People’s Republic of China’s defense sector. Alibaba has since filed a lawsuit seeking removal from the list, arguing that the designation is unfounded and harms its global business interests.
Leonsis, whose company also holds naming rights to major arena projects and runs a suite of sports‑related ventures, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The pressure on Monumental is not isolated; other high‑profile owners with Chinese ties, such as Joseph Tsai, co‑founder of Alibaba and owner of the Brooklyn Nets and New York Liberty, have also come under Congressional scrutiny.
The Select Committee on China, formed in 2023, has broadened its focus beyond trade and technology to include the realm of professional sports. In 2024, the panel sent a letter to the International Olympic Committee raising concerns about alleged doping violations involving Chinese swimmers, and earlier last year it warned the Trump‑appointed Secretary of Homeland Security about Alibaba’s sponsorship of the International Olympic Committee.
While the letter to Leonsis is part of a broader legislative effort to curb Chinese influence, it also reflects a growing awareness among lawmakers that major U.S. cultural institutions—including sports franchises—can serve as soft‑power platforms for foreign interests. The committee’s request underscores the belief that any corporate affiliation with a firm deemed a security risk should be severed, regardless of the visibility or popularity of the partnership.
Alibaba’s legal battle to overturn its designation remains ongoing, and the outcome could set a precedent for how other Chinese technology giants are treated in the United States. In the meantime, Leonsis and Monumental Sports & Entertainment face a tight deadline to answer the committee’s demand, a decision that could reshape sponsorship landscapes across the nation’s professional sports leagues.
