NCAA Women’s Basketball and Women Leaders in Sports are co-hosting the second annual NCAA Women’s Final Four Women in Sports Leadership VIP Summit on April 3-4 in Tampa Bay. This event will bring together powerful and influential women leaders from the sports and business sectors to:
- Discuss ways to leverage the momentum of women’s sports to achieve even greater growth, attention, exposure, and value for all women’s sports.
- Identify strategies to increase the number of women working and leading within both men’s and women’s sports.
- Foster connections across all sectors of the sports industry.
The summit will feature thought leadership discussions, a public question-and-answer forum for attendees in Tampa Bay during the Women’s Final Four, and several invitation-only receptions and networking events related to the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship.
“Last year’s NCAA Women’s Final Four Sports Leadership VIP Summit in Cleveland was a tremendous success, and we’re thrilled to expand on that momentum this year in Tampa Bay,” said Lynn Holzman, NCAA vice president for women’s basketball. “We have an outstanding lineup of sports industry leaders who will continue to empower women and inspire future generations of leaders.”
Patti Phillips, CEO of Women Leaders in Sports, will facilitate leadership discussions specifically for VIP Summit attendees on April 3. On April 4, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Eastern time, a panel session at Beyond the Baseline inside Tourney Town will be open to the public, providing opportunities for attendees and local and national media outlets to interview VIP Summit participants.
“Women Leaders is honored to join the NCAA in co-hosting the 2025 NCAA Women’s Final Four Women in Sports Leadership VIP Summit in Tampa Bay,” Phillips said. “This summit serves as a critical platform to accelerate the advancement of women into leadership roles across all sports sectors. I’m excited for another year of transformative discussions that will drive real change and continue to push boundaries for women in sports.”
Women’s sports executives were invited to participate in discussions about their influence on various issues and topics, including the unified voice of women’s sports across amateur, collegiate, and professional levels. The VIP Summit will offer a valuable opportunity for networking and serve as a platform to advocate for the women’s sports ecosystem on a national scale.
VIP Summit attendees include (subject to change):
- Stacey Allaster, Chief Executive of Professional Tennis, US Open
- Kim Davis, Senior Executive Vice President, NHL
- Bethany Donaphin, Executive Vice President and Head of League Operations, WNBA
- Cathy Engelbert, Commissioner, WNBA
- Jessica Gelman, CEO, KAGR (Kraft Analytics Group); Co-founder, MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference
- Darcie Glazer Kassewitz, Owner and Chairwoman, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Micky Lawler, Commissioner, Unrivaled Basketball
- Danette Leighton, CEO, Women’s Sports Foundation
- Lynn Holzman, Vice President of Women’s Basketball, NCAA
- Angie Long, Co-owner, Kansas City Current
- Hillary Mandel, Executive Vice President and Head of Americas, IMG
- Mollie Marcoux Samaan, Former Commissioner, LPGA
- Muffet McGraw, Former Notre Dame Women’s Basketball Coach; Current Studio Analyst, ESPN
- Patti Phillips, CEO, Women Leaders in Sports
- Christina Unkel, President and General Manager, Tampa Bay Sun FC
- Amanda Vandervort, President, United Soccer League Super League
*Please note: not all VIP Summit attendees are available for media.
The NCAA and Women Leaders will continue this summit at future Women’s Final Four locations, including Phoenix on April 3 and 5 next year.
About the NCAA
The NCAA is a member-led organization focused on cultivating an environment that emphasizes academics, fairness and well-being across college sports. Learn more.
About Women Leaders in Sports
Women Leaders in Sports is the leading professional membership organization devoted to developing, connecting, advancing and championing women working in sports. Since its inception in 1979, Women Leaders has sparked a vibrant movement, uniting over 6,000 members nationwide. Offering comprehensive programs and training, Women Leaders empowers female sports professionals at all levels with its invaluable networking opportunities, career resources and growth initiatives. Learn more about its mission at womenleadersinsports.org and follow on X, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok @_WomenLeaders.
