Commanders Owner Heading For Inevitable ‘Emotional Conflict of Interest’

Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris now owns teams in some of the biggest rivalry towns in the country.

Conflicts of interest - of the emotional sort - can arise when professional sports owners buy multiple teams in different leagues. 

Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke has majority control of the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche. His work out west isn't too much of a conflict of interest, though. 

The same cannot be said for Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris. 

Harris purchased control of the Commanders in 2023, following his acquisitions of the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA and the New Jersey Devils in the NHL. 

Now, Harris is expected to control the new Philadelphia sports franchise in the WNBA in 2030. 

"Philadelphia, the W's coming. Let's go, this is awesome," Harris said Monday in a statement. "To the city of Philly, this is your team. Philadelphia is a city about sports, and basketball in particular, including generations of extraordinary women's basketball talent, athletes who have shaped the game and inspired countless others."

As excited as Harris may be about bringing the WNBA to Philadelphia, it's easy to see how this could be a conflict of interest in the eyes of fans who are loyal to their cities.

The Philadelphia Eagles are considered the top team in that city, and Harris' Commanders are one of their biggest rivals. 

That might leave a sour taste in the mouth of several Philly fans. 

It came to a head during the Eagles' run to Super Bowl LIX. After defeating Harris' Commanders in the NFC Championship Game, the 76ers were the lone team in the city to NOT congratulate the Eagles on a Super Bowl appearance. 

It was an apparent “emotional conflict of interest” then, and Harris' purchase of a WNBA team won't change that now. 

From a business perspective? It’s all good.

But we understand why some passionate fans might see it as a bad look when the involved cities are entangled in a “sports hate” for each other.