MILWAUKEE — Valerie Daniels-Carter is a busy woman.

She’s the president of V&J Foods and V&J Holding Companies. 


What You Need To Know

  • Valerie Daniels-Carter is a minority co-owner of the Milwaukee Bucks

  • She bought a minority stake in the team in 2014

  • She is the only single Black woman to be a part of an NBA team’s ownership group

“As many of you know, we’re the largest female-owned restaurant organization in the country, and we have multiple brands in multiple states,” Daniels-Carter said.

That is just part of her day job.

She's a businesswoman, philanthropist and co-owner of the Milwaukee Bucks. In fact, she’s the only single African American woman to be involved in an NBA team’s ownership.

“That’s what they tell me! They tell me I’m the only single African-American female that’s involved in ownership in any of the teams. So, I’m pleased to celebrate singleness and success,” Daniels-Carter said. 

When she bought a minority stake in the team in 2014, there were several rough years without a lot of successes. 

“As with anything, everything has a beginning and the infancy of anything has to be developed and nurtured,” Daniels-Carter said. 

But, the Giannis Antetokounmpo era was just beginning. Fiserv Forum wasn’t built yet. The Deer District? It didn’t exist. 

Daniels-Carter said there were always those who said it could never be done.

“There were naysayers said it could never happen. They said the Forum couldn’t happen. Guess what? It’s here. They said the District couldn’t happen. Guess what? It’s here,” Daniels-Carter said. "They said the Bucks couldn’t win a Championship. Guess what? We’re in the finals and we will win a championship.”

She said the support from the City of Milwaukee and Bucks fans all over is evident by how many people show up at the Deer District, and now inside Fiserv Forum even to watch away games for these NBA Finals on the Jumbotron. 

“It tells you that we’ve been hungry for a win,” Daniels-Carter said. 

And, even though the team was down two games in the finals to the Phoenix Suns at the time, Daniels-Carter was full of optimism. 

“It’s really not about the battle, it’s about who wins the war,” Daniels-Carter said. “And who’s gonna win the war? The Bucks.”

The Bucks went on to win their first NBA Finals game in 47 years Sunday night.