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September 11, 2018
New York, NY

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Ann Rodriguez

COO, WNBA

As Chief Operating Officer of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), Ann Rodriguez leads the league’s business and strategy functions and oversees efforts to grow the game and the WNBA.

Prior to being promoted to COO in May 2018, Rodriguez served as Senior Vice President, League Operations for the WNBA.  Her responsibilities included overseeing all on-court basketball operations, including playing rules, scouting, scheduling and venue compliance, the management of referee operations and the administration of player-related policies and programs.

Prior to joining the WNBA in August 2017, Rodriguez served as Vice President of Business Operations for Major League Soccer’s Atlanta United FC.  She spearheaded the team’s marketing strategy and business plans, focusing on ticket sales, marketing, events, digital and social media, broadcast, sponsorships, retail, communications and community relations.  In its inaugural season, the team led the league in season tickets and attendance.

Previously, Rodriguez worked with NextGen Angels, an investment group focused on early-stage companies, where she served as Senior Vice President in its Washington, D.C., office.  Rodriguez also held a variety of leadership roles at Under Armour, working in strategy as well as global brand and sports marketing.  She led Under Armour into the Premier League with its landmark partnership with Tottenham Hotspur and completed the brand’s first soccer sponsorship in South America, signing Colo FC of Chile.  She previously served as Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Major League Soccer’s San Jose Earthquakes.

A native of Annapolis, Md., Rodriguez was recognized by SportsBusiness Journal with a “Forty Under 40” award in 2017.  She holds an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a bachelor’s degree in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology from Princeton University.

Wednesday, September 12

ONE YEAR LATER: EXAMINING THE STATE OF WOMEN'S SPORTS

Micky Lawler, President, WTA
Jon Podany, Chief Commercial Officer, LPGA
Ann Rodriguez, COO, WNBA
Dani Rylan, Founder & Commissioner, NWHL
Carol Stiff, VP, Programming & Acquisitions, ESPN
Guest Moderator: Shira Springer, Sports and Society Reporter, WBUR and NPR