General | 7/17/2025 12:24:50 PM

Kansas City, Mo.— Women Leaders in Sports (Women Leaders) announces its annual award recipients for 2025. The honors include the Nike Lifetime Achievement Awards, Nike Executive of the Year Awards, the BSN SPORTS Rising Star Award and new categories for Organization of the year, Innovator of the year, Resilience Award and Woman to Watch - all sponsored by BSN SPORTS. Award winners will be celebrated at the 2025 Women Leaders in Sports National Convention, October 12-14 in Kansas City.

Women Leaders is committed to recognizing the achievements and successes of women working in sports. Celebrating their accomplishments is integral to the mission to change the landscape of leadership in sports.

Key updates to the awards program were announced in April. The Nike Executive of the Year Awards criteria for nominations evolved to ensure that any unique contribution could be recognized, regardless of NCAA division or sector of sport. The Nike Executive of the Year Awards are presented in recognition of significant contributions made by a sitting leader in the sports industry.

“The list of highly accomplished women we will celebrate as award winners includes phenomenal leaders in professional sports, collegiate sports, and sport business,” Women Leaders CEO Patti Phillips said. “With the addition of new awards to recognize a more robust group of women’s accomplishments, expanded criteria for eligibility, and the opportunity for non-members to nominate, the organization continues to deliver on a commitment to recognize and celebrate a broad and diverse group of women leaders shaping the sports industry.”

Learn more about the Women Leaders’ annual awards here. Special thanks to Nike, the presenting sponsor of the Lifetime Achievement and Executive of the Year Awards, and BSN SPORTS, the official awards provider of Women Leaders in Sports.

Nominated by their peers and selected by the Women Leaders Awards Committee and Board of Directors for their service, the award recipients are:

Nike Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients:
Jane Miller, 35-year career in collegiate athletics, University of Virginia
Cheryl Levick, Three-time NCAA Division I Athletic Director, Santa Clara/Saint Louis/Georgia State

Nike Executive of the Year Award Recipients:
Jennifer Cohen, Charles Griffin Cale Director of Athletics, University of Southern California (Sandy Barbour Nike Division I FBS Executive of the Year)
Kimberly Davis, Senior Executive Vice President, National Hockey League
Alberta G. Lee, Executive Vice President, Chief People and Culture Officer, Cleveland Cavaliers – Rock Entertainment Group (Nell Jackson Nike Executive of the Year)
Jacqie McWilliams Parker, Commissioner, CIAA
Dr. Jacqueline Schuman, Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics and Recreation, UMass Boston
Sonja O. Stills, Commissioner, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
Julie Uhrman, Founder and CEO, Angel City FC

BSN SPORTS Award Recipients:
Organization of the Year: LSU Tiger Athletic Foundation
Innovator of the Year: Jessica Huntley, Senior Business Development Executive, Teamworks & Former Commissioner, Atlantic East Conference
Resilience Award: Raven Jemison, President, Kansas City Current
Woman to Watch: Avignon T. Greene, Senior Associate, Architect, Populous
Rising Star: Lulu Black, Assistant Director, Durham Sports Commission

About Women Leaders in Sports
Women Leaders in sports is a privately funded non-profit committed to transforming the landscape of leadership in sports. Since its inception in 1979, Women Leaders has sparked a vibrant movement, uniting over 5,500 members nationwide. Offering comprehensive programs and training, Women Leaders empowers female sports professionals at all levels with its invaluable networking opportunities, career resources, and growth initiatives. Learn more about their mission at womenleadersinsports.org and follow on X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.