Mo’ne Davis, Michele Roberts, Serena Williams and Condoleezza Rice among top Athletes and Influencers
On Tuesday, Dec. 16, espnW will honor 25 people who made the greatest impact for women in sports this past year with the inaugural Impact 25 — a who’s who of athletes and influencers who have made the biggest mark on women in sports – capped by The espnW Woman of the Year.
From the boardroom to the backcourt, 2014 was a historic year for women in sports. espnW surveyed a panel of sports experts and luminaries, including women’s sports influencers, former players and ESPN’s own editors and executives, on the 2014 sports landscape and divided the standout individuals into two categories, Athletes and Influencers, with 12 in each group and one Woman of the Year.
“espnW is committed to chronicling stories of excellence and achievement by women in sports, whether it be through our college Player of the Week accolades or in the powerful storytelling we do in our espnW Originals films,” said Alison Overholt, editor-in-chief, espnW. “This year, particularly, was a transformative and historic year of achievements by women in sports, both on and off the field. The Impact 25 gives us the opportunity to honor and highlight those who are truly making an impact.”
Some of the groundbreakers on the Impact 25 list include: Michele Roberts, who made history as the first female executive director of the National Basketball Players Association; Condoleezza Rice, whose appointment to the College Football Playoff Selection Committee made headlines across the country; tennis star Serena Williams, who overcame several injuries to end the year as the world No. 1; and Little League phenom Mo’ne Davis, whose 70 mph fastball made her a household name.
In addition to the Impact 25 list, espnW will offer a comprehensive look at the honorees including an essay on the Woman of the Year written by Allison Glock, as well as features by Kate Fagan, Alyssa Roenigk and Ramona Shelburne. ESPN The Magazine will feature interviews with the Impact 25 honorees in its “Interview Issue” (on newsstands today), and all Impact 25 content – including The Magazine and SportsCenter pieces — will be available at espnW.com/Impact25 on December 16.
About espnW
espnW serves women who love sports. espnW.com provides an engaging environment that offers total access to female athletes and the sports they play, takes fans inside the biggest events, and shares a unique point of view on the sports stories that matter most to women. Founded in July, 2010, espnW lives across television, films, events, digital and social platforms. The annual espnW: Women + Sports Summit is the leading event of its kind in the sports industry. The Women’s Sports Foundation is a charity of choice for espnW.
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