The Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF) welcomed seven new members to its Board of Trustees on January 1. This group of cross-sector professionals joins the WSF following its 50th-anniversary celebration in 2024 and will help propel the Foundation’s legacy into the future.

The new Board of Trustees members include:

  • Stacey Allaster, Chief Executive of Professional Tennis, USTA and Director, US Open Tournament;
  • Val Ackerman, Commissioner, Big East Conference and Founding President, Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA);
  • David Friedman, President, Earlystone Management, Inc., who oversaw the team’s investments in Athletes Unlimited (AU) and the Monarch Collective;
  • Rachel Garcia, Olympic Silver Medalist and the NCAA’s most decorated softball pitcher;
  • Alexander Popov, Partner and Head of Private Credit at the Carlyle Group, which recently jointly acquired the National Women’s Soccer League’s (NWSL) Seattle Reign FC;
  • Bill Shelton, Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President of Group 1001 and Co-founder of Parity Now; 
  • Gabby Thomas, five-time Olympic medalist, Track & Field;
  • Scout Bassett, President of the WSF, will remain in the role for a second year.

“We are delighted to welcome Val, Stacey, David, Rachel, Alexander, Bill, and Gabby to the WSF Board of Trustees and are thrilled Scout will continue leading as the Foundation’s president in 2025,” said WSF CEO Danette Leighton. “WSF’s 50th anniversary milestone served as a reminder that our vital mission is as important today as it was in 1974 with our latest research reports proving why sport is a must-have for all girls and women.

“Each member joining WSF’s Board brings a unique set of skills, perspectives and experiences that will help guide us into the next 50 years by fueling our mission and deepening our impact as we work to get more girls and women in the game because when they play, they lead, and we all win.

“Ackerman, Allaster, Friedman, Garcia, Popov, Shelton, and Thomas are joining a board that has helped WSF to influence and impact the sports ecosystem over the past five decades. Members hail from professional sports, teams and leagues, collegiate conferences, media entities, and the public and private sectors, including powerhouse brands and academia,” continued Leighton.

WSF President Scout Bassett said, “As we usher in 2025 by introducing our new trustees, a significant milestone of 2024 — WSF’s 50th anniversary — remains high on our radar. Together, I look forward to continuing our fight to protect Title IX by advocating for athletes of all abilities to benefit from its full promise while propelling WSF’s critical mission forward so we remain an essential resource for all girls and women in the decades to come.”

Image courtesy Women’s Sports Foundation