When girls play sports, they do more than compete. They learn how to lead.
Research shows that 94 percent of women who hold C-suite positions in the U.S. played sports at some point in their lives, while 71 percent of women in formal leadership roles (such as manager, director, or president) also have early ties to sports. This is no coincidence: Decades of studies prove that sports teach lessons that translate far beyond the field of play.
Today, we know that young women who participate in sports report higher levels of confidence at all ages, a stronger sense of meaning and purpose, and a greater likelihood of pursuing their dream careers than those who never had the chance to compete.
The sports industry in 2026 looks very different than it did when Title IX was passed nearly 54 years ago, and that’s because women take up more space across the sports ecosystem than ever before. The future of sports will be shaped by women in boardrooms, owners’ boxes, and front offices—women who unapologetically stand up for what they believe in and have fun doing it. Women are not only sitting at the most influential tables; they are at the heads of those tables, influencing every aspect of the industry and redefining how sports are built, financed, marketed, and experienced.
Ahead, you’ll meet six individuals who are among those game changers. Each has taken a unique path in sports and built a career in a different corner of the business. Yet their stories have a common thread: Their relationships with sports began when they were kids. They are proof of the power of sports to change the game for everyone.
Meet the Game Changers
6 women who shape the past, present, and future of sports
Amanda Lucci is the director of special projects at Women’s Health, where she works on multi-platform brand initiatives and social media strategy. She also leads the sports and athletes vertical, traveling to cover the Paris Olympics, Women’s World Cup, WNBA Finals, and NCAA Final Four for WH. She has nearly 15 years of experience writing, editing, and managing social media for national and international publications and is also a NASM-certified personal trainer. A proud native of Pittsburgh, PA, she is a graduate of Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. Follow her on Instagram @alucci.
