• espnW will Host 2017 Summit at New Venue, The Resort at Pelican Hill in Newport Beach, Calif.
• Additional Panelists and Speakers include Cosmopolitan Editor-in-Chief Michelle Promaulayko, USWNT Star Mallory Pugh, and More

The eighth annual espnW: Women + Sports Summit presented by Toyota will again showcase some of the biggest names in sports, business and entertainment with Los Angeles Lakers president Jeanie Buss, WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon and GRAMMY Award-winning artist Sheryl Crow headlining the three-day event. The yearly gathering will take place October 2-4, at a new venue – The Resort at Pelican Hill, in Newport Beach, Calif., and will include panels, keynotes, work sessions, presentations and activities geared towards advancing women in sports.

Buss and McMahon will each be featured in keynote discussions on Tuesday, Oct. 3, with ESPN NBA Insider and Senior Writer Ramona Shelburne interviewing Buss and ESPN anchor and host Hannah Storm facilitating the conversation with McMahon. Crow, an American pop music icon, will sit down with SportsCenter’s Cari Champion to talk about her latest album, Be Myself, and current tour, as well as offer an intimate performance of her past and current music.

“We strive to make each Summit a unique experience for attendees,” said Laura Gentile, senior vice president, espnW & Women’s Initiatives. “We push the conversation around women in sports front and center, and are thrilled to bring our marquee event to a fresh location. Once again, we’ve attracted terrific speakers who will enrich our program and provide attendees with thought-provoking and insightful discussions.”

In addition, SportsCenter anchor Sage Steele will host the Women in Leadership Panel on Monday, Oct. 2, with Cosmopolitan Editor-in-Chief Michelle Promaulayko, Disney Executive Vice President, Global Merchandise & Product Development Molly Adams, L’Oreal’s Angela Guy and the PGA’s Alex Baldwin.

Also Tuesday, espnW’s Kate Fagan will discuss her recently published book, What Made Maddy Run, now a New York Times bestseller. Fagan will further the dialogue around mental health in an in-depth conversation alongside former WNBA star and current mental health advocate Chamique Holdsclaw, with ESPN senior writer Alyssa Roenigk and espnW writer Allison Glock.

This year’s Summit will have special SportsCenter integrations with the Buss interview highlighted on SportsCenter editions, plus additional reports and contributions from Champion throughout the conference. “Foudy’s Finds,” a short-form digital series hosted by espnW’s Julie Foudy, will also feature on SportsCenter.

Other panels will include:

• “World Class Athletes” – with Natasha Watley (softball), Jessica Springsteen (equestrian), Chiney Ogwumike (women’s basketball), Alana Nichols (Paralympic athlete) and Ashley Wagner (figure skating);
• “Voices of the Future” – with Charli Collier (women’s basketball), Mallory Pugh (soccer), Kenzie Kent (ice hockey and lacrosse) and
• “Body Confidential” – a discussion led by espnW and ESPN The Magazine Editor-in-Chief Alison Overholt with Gold Glove award-winner and softball star A.J. Andrews around body image, confidence and portrayal in the media.

Also joining this year’s Summit will be espnW’s Kavitha Davidson, Allison Glock and Sarah Spain; SportsCenter anchor Jemele Hill; and ESPN NFL host and reporter Dianna Russini. In addition, ESPN Chief Financial Officer Christine Driessen will address attendees during the opening session.

The espnW: Women + Sports Summit is the only one of its kind in the industry. Through structured and thoughtful conversation, the event pushes the boundaries on topics surrounding women and women in sports, and has offered insight from such notable and groundbreaking people as: civil rights attorney Gloria Allred, phenom pitching ace Mo’Ne Davis, tennis legend and civil rights activist Billie Jean King, Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank, Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman, NBA Players’ Association President Michele Roberts, journalist and philanthropist Maria Shriver, Ambassador Madeline Verveer, soccer stars Mia Hamm, Carli Lloyd and Alex Morgan, and more.

Interviews, photos and additional content will be posted to espnW.com throughout the Summit. In addition, this year’s conference will be livestreamed from start to finish on espnW.com and via the ESPN app. Additional participants and details will be announced closer to the Summit. For more information about The espnW: Women + Sports Summit and to see the complete agenda visit www.espnWsummit.com or follow on Twitter with @espnW and #espnWsummit.

About espnW

espnW is a global multiplatform brand dedicated to engaging and inspiring women through sports. espnW.com, the brand’s content home, offers total access to female athletes and the sports they play, takes fans inside the biggest events, and captures the biggest trends in sports life/style.  espnW also provides a unique point of view on the sports stories that matter most to women and highlights the crossroads of sports and culture. Founded in July 2010, espnW’s content and voices live across digital, television, radio, films, events, educational platforms and social media. The annual espnW: Women + Sports Summit, now in its eighth year, brings together top athletes and industry leaders for meaningful conversations around women and sports, and is the leading event of its kind in the sports industry.

– 30 –