Lawmakers Urge Wizards and Capitals Owner to Ditch Alibaba

WHO:

NBC4 Washington - Ted Leonsis, owner of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Washington Wizards and Capitals.

NBC4 Washington - Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Mich., chair of the U.S. House Select Committee on China.

NBC4 Washington - Joseph Tsai, owner of the NBA's Brooklyn Nets and the WNBA's New York Liberty, co-founder of Alibaba.

WHAT:

NBC4 Washington - The U.S. House Select Committee on China requested that Leonsis cut ties with Alibaba.

NBC4 Washington - The Pentagon designated Alibaba as a “Chinese military company” with a mission to “support China’s military-civil fusion.”

NBC4 Washington - The Pentagon's list includes 188 entities, including Alibaba.

NBC4 Washington - Alibaba has sued to have its name removed from the Pentagon's list.

WHERE:

NBC4 Washington - Washington, D.C., where the Wizards and Capitals are based.

WHEN:

NBC4 Washington - The request from Moolenaar included a deadline of July 15.

NBC4 Washington - The House committee was formed in 2023.

NBC4 Washington - In 2024, Moolenaar and Raja Krishnamoorthi sent a letter to the International Olympic Committee.

WHY:

NBC4 Washington - The request is part of growing concerns among U.S. officials regarding Beijing’s strategy of using non-state businesses for military purposes.

HOW:

NBC4 Washington - The letter from Moolenaar requested confirmation that MSE would discontinue or has already discontinued any ongoing business relationship with Alibaba and its affiliates.

(UPDATED July 7, 2026 21:29 UTC)

The U.S. House Select Committee on China, chaired by Rep. John Moolenaar, has requested that Ted Leonsis, owner of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, sever ties with Alibaba, which the Pentagon has designated as a “Chinese military company.” This request is part of increasing concerns among U.S. officials about Beijing's strategy of leveraging non-state businesses for military purposes, and it includes a deadline of July 15 for confirmation that Leonsis will discontinue any business relationship with Alibaba and its affiliates. Alibaba, which is co-founded by Joseph Tsai, has responded by suing to have its name removed from the Pentagon's list of 188 entities linked to these military concerns.