After a pandemic year that upended athletics as much as any industry, 2021 saw the gradual return of fans to the sports they love. Tokyo hosted the 2020 Olympics (without spectators) on a one-year delay, professional teams implemented Covid-19 vaccine requirements and safety protocols for players and spectators, and Americans’ engagement with sports—in person, in esports, and on TV and streaming services—remained high. Adweek’s 2021 Most Powerful Women in Sports helped the industry turn that corner. These remarkable women continued to innovate, push for diversity and inclusivity, and move sports forward while elevating their teams, leagues, brands and clients. We’re proud to recognize this year’s class, alongside cover star Simone Biles, and honor their noteworthy accomplishments, made all the more remarkable for having been performed in what is still very much a white male-dominated domain. Read More
Not since the swimmer Lia Thomas has a college athlete or team put the fiercely…
UConn women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma passed Tara VanDerveer as college basketball’s all-time winningest coach…
Five years ago, Lindsey Vonn retired from ski racing, largely because her aching right knee,…
As confetti fell and Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” blared through the arena, the…
Susie Maxwell Berning, a three-time champion of the United States Women’s Open golf tournament who…
Once a dominant figure in girls’ and women’s soccer, Rory Dames in recent years has…