Join Sportico in New York City on Sept. 16 for RISE: Women’s Sports, a one-day event focused on innovation, investment and progress in the women’s sports marketplace. We’ll be hosting at the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) headquarters in midtown Manhattan for an industry day connecting leaders from finance, media, marketing and teams in this rapidly growing segment of sports business. Spots are fulling up fast for this marquee event—register now!
New Speakers!: Connecticut Sun forward and WNBA Legend Tina Charles will join the programming. Hear from the league’s all-time leading rebounder and former MVP about making an impact off the court from an early age.
Legacy Leaders, WNBA Greats: Where does the WNBA’s current boom fit in with its history and the expanding women’s sports space? A panel of WNBA legends will take the stage to assess the state of the league and figure out what’s next.
The Owner’s Circle: As women’s sports continue to surge in value, visibility, and influence, a new generation of team owners is shaping the future of the industry. This conversation brings together visionary owners across the global soccer ecosystem to discuss the evolving business of team ownership, the unique challenges and opportunities in the women’s sports landscape, and the strategies fueling growth and long-term sustainability. From equity stakes to community impact, hear firsthand how these leaders are redefining what it means to invest in the game.
Athletes of Impact: Globally accomplished sporting legends join us for an inside look at their time dominating the world stage as well as offering a glimpse at the future of women’s sports across disciplines. Listen in as some of the defining athletes of the era share what pushed them to greatness and how the business ecosystem of sport can continue to offer opportunities to the next generation.
Other Rise sessions will include:
The Business of Representation: Hear from the leading agents behind star athletes like Ilona Maher, Lisa Leslie, Allyson Felix and Jonquel Jones on what it takes to navigate the increasingly complex business, social and media duties asked of the game’s biggest players.
Leading the Expansion Era: Leagues and opportunities are growing faster than ever. Hear from team owners and presidents about best practices—and potential obstacles—in managing growth and building a team and fanbase.
· A Keynote Conversation with Lauren Leichtman: Hear from private equity’s first female billionaire in an address on value and maximizing opportunity. Lauren Leichtman co-founded Levine Leichtman Capital Partners with her husband Arthur Levine in 1984 and today the company manages more than $11 billion in assets. LLCP maintains a focus on acquiring and managing middle market companies across sectors including business services, franchising and education and training.
· Agents & Athletes in Conversation: Every great athlete has a powerhouse behind the scenes. Join leading sports agents and their clients as they discuss what it takes to thrive in today’s competitive sports world. This candid conversation explores trust, strategy, career milestones and the unfiltered reality of navigating fame, pressure and performance together.
· Where Hoops Meets Hype: Unrivaled Season 2: We’ll unpack the bold evolution from Season 1 to Season 2—highlighting format changes, storytelling innovations and how the league continues to blend elite basketball talent with entertainment and fan engagement. Get insights into athlete recruitment, content strategy, production challenges, and how Unrivaled is shaping the future of sports media. Panelists include Alex Bazzell, co-founder & president, Unrivaled; Micky Lawler, commissioner, Unrivaled.
Sportico: Rise is presented in partnership with the WNBPA, GalwayPlus, Scoreplay, Genius Sports, Sidley Austin LLP and Populous. Rise reception and breakfast is sponsored by Populous and the happy hour by Sidley Austin LLP. Sportico is also proud to announce Rhone as the official merchandise partner for its upcoming conferences, providing premium performance apparel to today’s sports industry leaders.