The annual Game Changers conference, held last week in New York City, celebrated its 15th class of honorees. Leaders in sports came from around the country to discuss today’s progress and the journey still to come in women’s sports.
During the panel, Top of the Agenda: The Trends and Storylines You Should Be Watching, Kim Damron, president of Learfield’s Sports Properties Division, discussed issues around name, image and likeness (NIL) in college sports, including which companies and situations are considered appropriate. “The only one that’s not really approved right now by the NCAA is jersey patches,” she said.
Moderator Abraham Madkour, publisher and executive editor of Sports Business Journal, asked the panelists what has most contributed to the rise of women’s sports. “I would probably say access and exposure,” said Danita Johnson, president of business operations at D.C. United. “The fact that you can turn it on and see it — before, you couldn’t even get to it. And the fact that it’s become part of the everyday conversation has been one of the reasons it’s continued to rise.”
The panelists noted that student-athletes’ having their own platforms on social media has been a huge driver, and women have used their creativity to build their brands. “I credit the athletes with building their own fan base,” said Amina Bulman, CRO of Boston Legacy FC. Damron added that female student-athletes telling authentic stories has created genuine excitement.
Madkour also sat down with Val Ackerman for Fireside Chat: Legacy, Leadership and Redefining the Landscape of Sports. She reflected on her career journey — from law school to the NBA, to launching the WNBA, and, since 2013, serving as commissioner of the Big East Conference.
Ackerman said, “Society has changed. I think [the WNBA was] ahead of its time in the way we were positioning the league and the way we were speaking about the power of women … There were naysayers around many corners, but we kept at it … The payout now, it’s great to see.”
Today, Ackerman is focused on issues in college sports, notably the impact of NIL and revenue sharing. “It’s very hard right now to draft a five-year plan, but it really is on the backs of the [athletic directors] to deal with their athletes, this changing model, the revenue sharing, the fundraising that’s needed in order to do the revenue sharing and the normal pressures of the job,” she said. “I tip my hat to ADs all around the country because they’re dealing with a lot.”