Gayle Benson, Tom Benson's chosen successor to own the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans, will become the only woman to have a franchise in both the NFL and NBA in the wake of her husband's death.
After buying the Pelicans in 2012, Tom Benson joined a small group of people with the distinction of owning a team in both leagues. Paul Allen owns the Seattle Seahawks and Portland Trail Blazers, and Stan Kroenke has the Los Angeles Rams and Denver Nuggets. Some NFL owners also have NHL teams or European soccer clubs, but the combination with an NBA team is rare.