About this event
Women’s sports are entering a breakout era — and the WNBA is leading the charge. As the 2025 season tips off, the league is fueled by record-setting valuations, surging media rights interest, and a new generation of star power. But it’s not without challenges: a looming CBA negotiation and questions about player investment could shape the league’s future.
In this episode of SBJ Live, we’ll cover:
Who should attend?
Why now? The women’s sports economy is no longer “emerging” — it’s arrived and accelerating. Understanding the WNBA’s current momentum and structural challenges is essential for anyone serious about tapping into the next major growth engine in sports.
Featured Speakers (Additional to be Announced)
Arielle Chambers, a Forbes Under 30 Honoree, is a multi-media journalist, host, and women's sports and culture amplifier. Originally from Raleigh, North Carolina, Chambers utilizes storytelling to amplify the voices of women and magnify their excellence. She seeks to show girls and women world-wide that their potential is limitless.
In 2019, Chambers founded Warner Bros. Discovery's HighlightHER, one of the first media platforms dedicated to women’s sports. At HighlightHER, she consistently delivered a blend of news, highlights, user-generated content, and engaging interviews featuring renowned female athletes, all centered around the world of women's sports. The platform has recently been renamed to BR Women's Sports. She has since moved to ESPN, where she serves as a women's sports commentator across ESPN's linear and digital platforms and sports culture talent for Andscape.
Chambers received higher education from both the University of Oxford (UK) and North Carolina State University (NC), studying New Communication Media and English. In addition to her Communications degree, Chambers was named an Outstanding Young Alumna by NC State. Post-university, she took her talents to major sports leagues like the NBA, NHL and WNBA, in in-game entertainment. It was there that Chambers saw the discrepancy in visibility of women's sports coverage. She realized the immediate impact she could have on the league if she were to just conduct her own interviews and post them online.
Chambers has since dedicated her efforts close the gender coverage gap. Chambers coined the phrase THE WNBA IS SO IMPORTANT, which ultimately became Twitter Sports' WNBA 25th Anniversary campaign. She is a host and reporter for the WNBA, Team USA, and FIBA. Some of her current notable work include hosting the WNBA's "Off Top," WNBA's League Pass series, Jr. NBA's Her Time to Play, Team USA's Athlete Voices, FIBA's World Cup Draw and Hall of Fame and ESPN's Hoop Streams (WNBA).
Through relentless dedication and tireless efforts to amplify women's sports, Chambers has been named to Forbes 30 Under 30 (Sports, 2021), For(bes) the Culture's 50 Champions (2021), Sports Illustrated's 100 Influential Women in Sports (2022), Dawn Staley Excellence in Broadcasting Award (2022), Black Enterprise's 40 Under 40 (2023), The Athletic's 40 Under 40: Rising Stars in Women's Basketball (2021), The CCNYC Creative Class (2022), Footlocker's Sole List (2021) and Yahoo's Changemakers (2021). She has won a Webby and several Hashtag Sports Awards. Chambers also released a special edition ball with Wilson Basketball in collaboration with the WNBA.
Beyond her reporting and commentary, Chambers is known for her advocacy work. She has been a vocal advocate for social justice, gender equality, and racial equity in sports. Her efforts have not only sparked important conversations but have also led to meaningful change within the sports industry.
Carley Knox is entering her 16th season with the Minnesota Lynx and her 21st in the WNBA. In February 2021, Knox was named Lynx President of Business Operations. Knox oversees the day-to-day business operations of the Lynx, including supporting ticket sales and service, public relations, marketing, community impact, logistics, business development with corporate partnerships, budget management, diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, season scheduling, and is the primary liaison between the team and the WNBA on league-wide business, COO, and marketing initiatives.
Knox’s passion and commitment to women’s athletics and the Minnesota Lynx is fueled by her belief and desire to use sport as a vehicle of change in the community, to help support gender equality and social justice, and to celebrate diversity. During her tenure, Knox created one of the most exclusive and innovative programs in professional sports, the Minnesota Lynx President’s Circle. The first of its kind in the WNBA, this elite club offers members unparalleled access to one of the greatest dynasties in the history of sports, as well as a unique opportunity to give back to the community, promote a nonprofit they are passionate about, and help make the world a better place. Since its inception in 2016, the President’s Circle has more than quadrupled its membership, reached over 65 non-profit organizations, and touched the lives of over 5,000 underserved youth.
Originally hired by the Minnesota Lynx in January 2010 as the Business Development Manager, Knox’s primary focus included corporate partnerships and ticket sales. During her tenure with the Lynx, Knox has also held the roles of Lynx Director of Business Operations and Lynx Vice President of Business Operations. Prior to coming to Minnesota, she spent 5 years with the WNBA’s Detroit Shock where she was the Director of Sales and Marketing.
Knox currently serves on the Executive Committee, Chair of the Development Committee and on the Board for the Ann Bancroft Foundation. She was recently named the Grand Marshal for Twin Cities PRIDE 2024, an honor bestowed upon an individual who has shown a tireless commitment to amplifying voices, and elevating lives of members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Knox is also a member of the Kare 11 Community Advisory Council and served on the 2022 NCAA Women’s Final Four Local Advisory Council. Knox also coaches her son's soccer and basketball teams. Knox, her wife, and their son Oliver currently reside in Minneapolis, Minn.
Kelly Krauskopf resumed her role as Team President of the Indiana Fever in September 2024 after dedicating six seasons to the Indiana Pacers. Her career with Pacers Sports & Entertainment spans an impressive 26 years.
In 2018, Kelly made history as the first woman in the NBA to be appointed to an executive basketball management position when she was hired as Assistant General Manager for the Indiana Pacers, following a remarkable 19-year tenure as the leader and architect of the Fever.
Kelly arrived in Indianapolis in 2000 as the pioneering executive responsible for establishing the Indiana Fever from the ground up. She successfully recruited staff and assembled teams that set the current WNBA record for the longest consecutive playoff streak in league history. Under her leadership, the Fever reached the playoffs for 12 straight seasons, advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals five consecutive years and made it to the WNBA Finals three times in seven years—winning the Championship in 2012.
In addition to her tenure with the Fever, Krauskopf contributed significantly to USA Basketball’s Women’s Senior National Team Committee for 12 years, where she played a key role in finalizing rosters for USA National Teams, which secured gold medals at the Summer Olympics in 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016.
Her extensive career in the NBA and WNBA began in 1996 when she was appointed as the WNBA’s first Director of Basketball Operations, overseeing the development of league rules, scheduling, officiating, and game conduct.
Krauskopf’s professional background is diverse. Before entering professional sports, she worked in the corporate sector for Liberty Sports Media in Dallas, Texas, and Holmes Millett Advertising.
Her post-basketball playing career commenced at Texas A&M University in college sports administration, where she served as Assistant Commissioner in the Southwest Conference (now the Big 12) and as Assistant Athletic Director at Texas A&M University over an eight-year period. A native of Texas, Kelly has been actively involved in numerous boards and committees within the city of Indianapolis.
Registration is free. All registrants will receive a recording of the webinar following the event.
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