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Game Changers

Game Changers: Jill Smoller

COURTESY OF JILL SMOLLER
Smoller’s list of big clients includes Serena Williams.
Jill Smoller
William Morris Endeavor
Senior Vice President

There have been many female sports agents through the years, but few have represented the level of male sports athletes that Jill Smoller has. Since 1997, Smoller has worked with Rick Fox, Dennis Rodman and Pete Sampras. This year, she negotiated a multiyear, multimillion-dollar deal for Kevin Garnett with Chinese shoe company Anta rather than him renewing a deal with his longtime sponsor Adidas.

Smoller, who started in the mailroom at ICM but now is senior vice president of William Morris Endeavor, is the longtime agent of Serena Williams and has represented Michelle Wie, as well. In addition, she represents Olympic gold-medal-winning track star Allyson Felix, who is expected to again compete for the U.S. in London next year.

Smoller keeps her list of athlete clients short, and when sports and entertainment grew together, Smoller was one of the first agents to take her athletes into the entertainment space, including negotiating film and television deals for Rodman and Fox.

— Liz Mullen
  • Crowning professional achievement: My involvement with client Serena Williams in opening two secondary schools in Africa with HP, and representing superstar athletes across a multitude of sports.
  • Biggest professional disappointment: Waking up to a 6 a.m. phone call and learning that my first client, Florence Griffith-Joyner, had passed away.
  • What is the best advice you’ve ever received?: It’s OK to listen and not contribute if you have nothing important to add.
  • Person who had the biggest influence on your career in sports: Mark McCormack.

WHAT OTHERSARE SAYING

“Jill Smoller goes beyond the call of duty when it comes to being an agent. … When I was hospitalized earlier this year, Jill was one of the first people I called. She was there for me throughout that entire ordeal that shook up my life.”

  • Serena Williams, 13-time Grand Slam tournament champion

ADDITIONAL SECTIONS
PODCASTS

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: May 24, 2024

A look at how the NCAA and Power 5 will pay athletes directly; MLB's attendance and ratings numbers up; Tanenbaum's vision for Toronto's WNBA franchise and WBD Sports to air some CFP games in sublicense agreement.

Sue Bird and Dawn Porter talk upcoming doc, Ricardo Viramontes of UNINTERRUPTED and NBA conference finals

This week’s pod comes to you from 4se where SBJ’s Austin Karp is joined by basketball legend Sue Bird and award-winning director Dawn Porter as the duo share how their documentary, Power of the Dream, came together and what viewers can expect. Later in the show ,Ricardo Viramontes of The SpringHill Company/UNINTERRUPTED talks about how LeBron James and Maverick Carter are making their own mark in original content. Plus SBJ’s Mollie Cahillane joins the pod to add insight into the WNBA’s hot start and gets us set for the NBA Conference Finals.

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SBJ TV

Sports Media Podcast May 15 2024 The Big Get Brian Herbst

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Sports Media Podcast April 24 Whos Up Whos Down

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Sports Media Podcast April 17 2024 The Big Get Molly Solomon

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