SSAC

Panelists: Sue Bird, Megan Rapinoe, Lauren Holiday Everyone watches women's sports—and now, there's a podcast for that.Take a front row seat with world champion athletes Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe, as they sit down with Lauren Holiday to discuss their shared journeys through sports and life. Hear deep cut stories from their experiences as athletes, and the inside look at moments illuminate the intersection of sports and pop culture.

Moderator: Michele Steele Panelists: A'ja Wilson, Jade-Li English 2x WNBA Champion, 2x Olympic Gold Medalist, and 3x MVP A’ja Wilson, alongside her agent Jade-Li English, will delve into the dynamic intersection of sports, entrepreneurship, and personal growth. They’ll share A’ja’s journey from athlete to businesswoman, navigating opportunities on and off the court. The discussion will also highlight the critical player-agent relationship, explore how strategic decisions shape careers, personal brands, and long-term success amid the booming women’s basketball landscape and reflect on the sport’s evolving impact and exciting future of women’s basketball.

Moderator: Corbin Petro Panelists: Stacy Lewis, Julie Uhrman, Jennifer Rizzotti Women's sports have grown tremendously in popularity but many leagues still lack the data infrastructure long-established mens league's have. This panel will explore the critical need for better data collection and analysis in women’s sports, and how past efforts have directly translated to on-field success. The panel will discuss the challenges of limited data availability, how it affects athlete development, fan engagement, and media coverage, and highlight the importance of accurate, comprehensive data to drive investment and visibility in women’s sports.

Moderator: Mark Donaldson Panelists: Jonathan Atkeison, Mihir Warty, Todd Myers, Jarrod Kimber Two internationally renowned sports, cricket and rugby, are betting on the appeal of a World Cup to break into the American market. But how effective is this strategy? And what can be done strategically to get this bet to succeed? The World Cup approach relies on a significant upfront investment with considerable risk, but potentially high rewards in the world's largest sports market. This panel will explore how USA Cricket approached the 2024 World Cup, and how USA Rugby is planning for the 2031 (Men's) and 2033 (Women's) World Cups. It will synthesize learnings and best practices as well as what's next for both of these governing bodies, and the growth of these sports in the U.S. from the grassroots to professional levels.

Moderator: Saj Cherian Panelists: Mark Tatum, Christine Dorfler, Paul Caine As the sports industry continues to evolve, US-based leagues are increasingly looking internationally to capture new audiences and drive growth. Our panelists will explore the current climate of sport globalization and its future trajectory, focusing on how leagues identify and prioritize key international market while sharing the unique challenges by culture, language, and access. In addition to understanding grassroots support through youth development programs and leveraging digital platforms can engage global fans, hear about the unique challenges of global events (e.g. Olympics, World Cup). The conversation will also address competition from international leagues, potential international team expansion, and varying fan expectation when traveling or locally-based. Bringing together executives and insiders from the NFL, NBA, and On Location who supports all 3 to discuss their strategies for global expansion and the corresponding challenges they face.

Moderator: Jessica O'Beirne Panelists: Mohini Bhardwaj, Brody Malone, Josh Dixon, Li Li Leung Gymnastics remains the most-viewed Olympic sport and top women's college sport, presenting a unique opportunity to boost fan engagement and economic expansion leading up to the LA28 home Olympics. This panel will explore cutting-edge solutions like Fujitsu’s AI Judging Evaluation program and the USOPC’s International Scouting Analytics project, which played a key role in securing Olympic medals in Paris. Additionally, we will discuss the emerging economic ecosystem within gymnastics, including athlete-driven revenue opportunities, sponsorship growth, and innovative platforms that allow gymnasts to capitalize on their success. Join Olympic medalists, industry leaders, and the president of USA Gymnastics for a deep dive into the innovations shaping the future of gymnastics performance, safety, and business strategies driving audience engagement forward.

Moderator: Arda Öcal Panelists: Jeremy Rogalski, Meghan Chayka, Philippe Desaulniers Across all sports, analytics have become essential for shaping offseason decisions, such as draft preparation and player compensation. However, their impact extends far beyond that—data and analytics now play a critical role in guiding in-game decisions, helping coaches lead their teams to success. Join our panelists from across the hockey landscape as they discuss the evolution of on-ice decision-making driven by analytics. From line changes to innovative strategies, discover how coaches and front offices are redefining the game with data-driven approaches.

Moderator: Deepak Malhotra Panelists: Sue Bird, Evan Wasch, Mike Zarren, Daryl Morey Basketball has seen a dramatic shift in recent years, with the three-point shot dominating team strategies and reshaping how players approach the game. This panel will explore whether the NBA is at a “crisis” point due to this trend, drawing lessons from other sports that faced similar strategy convergence. Panelists will debate whether the league has reached peak three-point shooting volumes, how defenses have adapted, and whether this evolution has made the game less entertaining or overly repetitive. The discussion will also address potential solutions: Should leagues intervene with rule changes, or will the game naturally evolve as teams identify new inefficiencies? Join us for a lively debate on the future of basketball amidst the three-point era.

In this discussion, guests Steve Magness, an expert on mental toughness; Sian Leah Beilock, a cognitive scientist and president of Dartmouth; and Allison Feaster, VP at the Boston Celtics, dive into the psychology behind winning. They explore how athletes can build resilience and effective team dynamics while navigating pressure. Personal stories highlight failure as a stepping stone to success, and they discuss how storytelling and reframing negative experiences boost performance. The panel emphasizes the importance of communication, wellness, and adapting mindsets in overcoming challenges.

Moderator: John Hollinger Panelists: Shane Battier, Dean Oliver, Monte McNair, Ariana Andonian This panel will explore how NBA organizations have transformed through the integration of analytics into their decision-making processes. From drafting strategies and roster construction to player development and in-game tactics, panelists will examine the role of analytics in shaping team identity and success. The conversation will balance the front office’s perspective on long-term planning with the player-centric view of how data-driven strategies impact the on-court experience. Topics will include the use of advanced metrics for player evaluation, the integration of tracking data, the balance between data and basketball instincts, and the challenges of implementing analytics across departments.