Kwanza Jones is making history and we’re signing up for her fan club!
Jones and her husband, José E. Feliciano, are leading the new ownership group for the San Diego Padres after Major League Baseball owners unanimously approved the transfer of control earlier this month, MLB reports. Feliciano has been named the team’s Control Person, while Jones is listed as a Principal Owner of the franchise.
The move is historic. KPBS reports that Jones, an entrepreneur and philanthropist, is the first Black person to own a majority stake in an MLB team. The sale also came at an MLB-record valuation of $3.9 billion, according to AP.
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For Jones and Feliciano, the Padres are not just an investment. They have spoken about the team as a family and community, with Jones already embracing the city, the fans, and the energy around the franchise. At their first public appearance at Petco Park, the couple held up personalized Padres jerseys and made it clear they want to build something lasting in San Diego.
“We want to win,” the new owners said during their introduction, according to KPBS. They also shared that they are committed to the San Diego community and are looking to put down roots in the county.
Jones brings a wide-ranging background to the role. According to the Padres, she is an investor, entrepreneur, executive, philanthropist, and former NCAA Division I athlete. Through the Kwanza Jones & José E. Feliciano Initiative, the couple has also supported education, entrepreneurship, equity, and community-focused work.
And from her first public moments with the tram, she made it clear she’s stepping into the role full of Black girl magic!
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“La Madre de los Padres has arrived,” she said during the team’s introduction event.
For Major League Baseball, Jones’ ownership marks a long-overdue milestone in a sport where Black ownership representation has remained rare. For San Diego, it marks the beginning of a new era led by owners who say they are ready to honor the team’s legacy while pushing toward its future.
History has arrived in San Diego, and Kwanza Jones is bringing the vibes with her.
