The Game Changers Class of 2026 announced by Sports Business Journal now includes 60 honorees, marking the program’s first explicit focus on female leaders in sports business across the globe.
Program widens to spotlight women’s impact worldwide
In partnership with Leaders in Sport, SBJ broadened the annual roster to recognize women for leadership, innovation and measurable results. The expansion covers executives, entrepreneurs and decision‑makers from multiple continents.
“It’s fantastic that we are able to extend the recognition that Game Changers provides to brilliant women making an impact in the sports business. We are truly excited to recognize the global impact of women across several continents and share their stories,” said Laura McQueen, managing director of Leaders in Sport.
Honorees span teams, leagues, media, tech and marketing
The September 21 issue will feature profiles of honorees from diverse sectors, while a ceremony on September 30 at the Marriott Marquis Times Square will publicly honor them. Selections include senior executives from Fanatics, the U.S. Soccer Federation, and LA28.
Among the 60 are Molly Adams of Fanatics, Lisa Bhathal Merage of Portland Fire and Thorns, Mariel Brady of Versant Media, Leah Burton of U.S. Soccer, Olivia Cheng of LA28, and Kristen Condo of the Heisman Trust. The list reads like a phone book, but it’s intentional.
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Other notable names include Alisha Greenberg, founder of Rounding Third, Asia Gholston of Ilitch Sports, Jennifer Kardosh of CAA Sports. The roster also features executives from Amazon Web Services, Prime Video, and PayPal/Venmo.
Compared with prior classes, this cohort mirrors a broader industry trend where organizations are deliberately raising female talent to address historic gaps. The shift resembles earlier moves in media and tech where diversity panels became standard practice, suggesting a gradual but steady cultural change.
The annual Game Changers conference is set for October 1, offering panels, speaker sessions and networking opportunities.
All honorees will be presented with a commemorative plaque during the September 30 event. The ceremony will be livestreamed for broader audience access, and a detailed feature will appear in the September 21 edition of SBJ.
That’s the core of the announcement: a larger, more inclusive class, a high‑profile ceremony, and a conference that aims to support connections among the sport business community.