Celebrating Women in Sports
2022 Celebrating Women in Sports
Save the Date for the 2022 Celebrating Women in Sports luncheon presented by Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute, returning to UCF's Addition Financial Arena on Tuesday, September 27! This year's featured speaker presented by Florida Blue is Jennifer Rizzotti, President of the WNBA's Connecticut Sun.
As a student-athlete at the University of Connecticut, Rizzotti first vaulted into the national spotlight as the starting point guard for the Huskies’ first national championship team in 1995 with an undefeated 35-0 record. She went on to become a two-time WNBA Champion with the Houston Comets before pivoting to coach at the college level. Rizzotti joined the Sun after five seasons as the Head Women’s Basketball Coach at George Washington University and 11 seasons as Head Coach of the University of Hartford Women’s Basketball program, where she compiled a 316-216 (.594) record and was named America East Coach of the Year three times. Inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013, Rizzotti is well-known in basketball circles around the world, most notably as an assistant coach to the USA Basketball Women’s National Team, with whom she won a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. A member of eight previous USA Basketball coaching staffs, she was named the USA Basketball FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series team head coach for the 2022 tour. As president of the Connecticut Sun, Rizzotti is responsible for the business operations and marketing strategies for the WNBA team.
Click here to purchase a table sponsorship or individual tickets!
Additional event information will be available soon. If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities, please email michael@greaterorlandosports.com
2022 Award Winners
SHARON LINE CLARY
ADVENTHEALTH
WOMEN IN SPORTS LEADERSHIP AWARD
KATIE STOCZ MILLER
ORLANDO MAGIC & WISE GREATER ORLANDO
WOMEN IN SPORTS LEADERSHIP AWARD
AMY WISE
2022 SPECIAL OLYMPICS USA GAMES
WOMEN IN SPORTS LEADERSHIP AWARD
ALI ANDERSON
ORLANDO MAGIC
RISING STAR AWARD
JESSICA WEST
ORLANDO CITY SC, ORLANDO PRIDE & EXPLORIA STADIUM
WISE WOMEN OF INSPIRATION AWARD
2021 Celebrating Women in Sports Recap
On September 28, 2021, the Greater Orlando Sports Commission hosted its 3rd Annual Celebrating Women in Sports Luncheon presented by Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Center and honored four of Orlando's outstanding female sports leaders in front of more than 400 guests.
The 2021 Women in Sports Leadership Award recipients were Stacey Allaster (USTA), Trish Highland (Lake and Orange County Public Schools), and Kay Rawlins (Orlando City Foundation). The Women in Sports Leadership Award recognizes leaders who have helped make sports in Greater Orlando the successful industry it is today. It is an honor reserved for those who have given their time, energy and passion to improving the industry and taking it in new directions. The 2021 Rising Star Award recipient was Megan Rose (USTA). The Rising Star Award recognizes a young female professional in the sports industry who has demonstrated strong leadership, initiative, and exceptional contributions early in their career. The award is intended to support and encourage the next generation of female sports industry leaders who will take sport to new heights.
This year’s featured speaker was two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup Champion, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, coach and sportscaster Brandi Chastain, who participated in a fireside chat that was moderated by Brandi’s former teammate and the current head coach for UCF Women’s Soccer, Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak. As one of the most notable female soccer stars, Brandi played for the United Sates Women’s National Team from 1988-2004, earning 192 appearances (caps) on the team and scored 30 goals including the 1999 World Cup winning penalty kick. She was named to the USWNT All Time Best XI in 2013 and was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2017.
Thank you to all of our sponsors who help make this event possible: Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Center, the City of Orlando, Full Sail University, Holland & Knight, Orlando Cleaners, Orlando Magic, Orlando Sanford International Airport, Orlando Solar Bears, OUC The Reliable One, The Southern Group, SouthState Bank, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Tavistock Group. The luncheon was also supported by more than 25 additional organizations who purchased Table Sponsorships.
2021 Award Winners
STACEY ALLASTER
UNITED STATES TENNIS ASSOCIATION
WOMEN IN SPORTS LEADERSHIP AWARD
TRISH HIGHLAND
ORANGE & LAKE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
WOMEN IN SPORTS LEADERSHIP AWARD
KAY RAWLINS
ORLANDO CITY FOUNDATION
WOMEN IN SPORTS LEADERSHIP AWARD
MEGAN ROSE
UNITED STATES TENNIS ASSOCIATION
RISING STAR AWARD
2019 Celebrating Women in Sports Recap
On June 12, 2019, the Greater Orlando Sports Commission hosted its 2nd Annual Celebrating Women in Sports Luncheon presented by Orlando Health and honored three of Orlando's outstanding female sports leaders in front of a sold out room of more than 400 guests.
The 2019 Women in Sports Leadership Award recipients were Donna Dowless (XOXO Media Group) and Marci Doyle (Arnold Palmer Invitational).The Women in Sports Leadership Award recognizes leaders who have helped make sports in Greater Orlando the successful industry it is today. It is an honor reserved for those who have given their time, energy and passion to improving the industry and taking it in new directions. The 2019 Rising Star Award recipient was Shelly Wilkes (Lakeland Magic).The Rising Star Award recognizes a young female professional in the sports industry who has demonstrated strong leadership, initiative, and exceptional contributions early in their career. The award is intended to support and encourage the next generation of female sports industry leaders who will take sport to new heights.
This year’s featured speaker was WWE’s Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon, who participated in a fireside chat with emcee Danielle Knox, Emmy Award winning Good Day Orlando morning anchor at Fox35 Orlando. McMahon, a mother of three girls, has been the driving force behind WWE’s Women’s Evolution, which has given female performers an equal share of the spotlight both in and out of the ring. She spoke about the opportunities Women's Evolution has provided, as well as what other sports and media companies can learn from WWE in supporting a women-led future. McMahon also talked about the company's investment in the Orlando community, from their state-of-the-art training facility to their unique partnership with Full Sail University.
Thank you to all of our sponsors who help make this event possible: Orlando Health, First Class Cleaners, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, USTA National Campus, City of Orlando, Florida Sports Foundation, CenterState Bank, Full Sail University, and Orlando City Soccer Club.
2019 Award Winners:
DONNA DOWLESS
XOXO MEDIA GROUP
WOMEN IN SPORTS LEADERSHIP AWARD
MARCI DOYLE
ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL
WOMEN IN SPORTS LEADERSHIP AWARD
SHELLY WILKES
LAKELAND MAGIC
RISING STAR AWARD
2018 Celebrating Women in Sports Recap
On May 17, 2018, the Greater Orlando Sports Commission (then known as the Central Florida Sports Commission) hosted its inaugural Celebrating Women in Sports Luncheon presented by Orlando Health and honored three distinguished women in front of a sold out room of 300 guests. The first ever Community Sports Leadership Awards – which will annually honor individuals for their longstanding commitment, contributions and service to the Central Florida sports community – were presented to Maribeth Bisienere, Linda Landman Gonzalez, and Joanie Schirm, all local industry executives. Each recipient demonstrated outstanding leadership, inspired others and increased the opportunities for women in sports.
ESPN’s first female MLB analyst and two-time Olympian (gold and silver medalist), Jessica Mendoza, was the featured speaker. She gave a memorable talk on her perspective as the first female MLB analyst and recounted her years as young baseball fan. "It was such an honor to be able to share my story at the Celebrating Women in Sports Luncheon," said Jessica Mendoza. "Being a woman in a male dominated industry has made me passionate about educating others to get outside their comfort zone to impact those around them, regardless of what limitations are in front of them.” Jessica shared her story as one of the most notable softball players during the last decade, and imparted her message that “all women deserve to play sports for inspiration, empowerment and enjoyment.”
Following the Celebrating Women in Sports Luncheon, GO Sports hosted a Student-Athlete Summit where Jessica Mendoza met with high school and collegiate softball players from Orange and Osceola Counties, as well as Rollins College and Stetson University. Jessica spoke about her work ethic and dedication that brought her two Olympic medals and the role she has played as a successful woman in the sports industry. In addition, she answered questions and took photos with each of the teams.
2018 Community Sports Leadership Award Recipients:
Joanie Schirm
Author and founding President of the Greater Orlando Sports Commission
Maribeth Bisiniere
Walt Disney World & Disney Sports, Senior Vice President
Linda Landman Gonzalez
Orlando Magic, Vice President of Social Responsibility & President of the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation
