2026 Sports Power Brunch: Celebrating the Most Powerful Women in Sports at Big Game Week
CREDIT: Photo by Jeff Schear/Getty Images for The Sports Power Brunch
Six honorees. One unforgettable morning. And a room full of the most powerful women in sports proving — once again — that their influence on this industry is undeniable.
Four Seasons San Francisco • Big Game Week 2026 • 7th Annual Sports Power Brunch™
SAN FRANCISCO — Before the biggest game in football took center stage, the women who help power this sport gathered for something equally worthy of the spotlight. The 7th Annual Sports Power Brunch™ took over the Four Seasons San Francisco to kick off Big Game Week 2026 — and the room was nothing short of electric.
Created by veteran sports communications and marketing entrepreneur LaTonya Story, the Sports Power Brunch™ has become one of the most anticipated events on the sports calendar — a celebration of excellence, leadership, and the women who are reshaping the sports industry from the inside out. This year's gathering was no different. Six extraordinary honorees. Two powerhouse panels. A purple carpet. Brand activations. And a room packed with names that move the needle in every corner of the sports world.
Netflix's lead sports host Elle Duncan held court as the event's host, bringing her signature energy and sharp wit to a morning built for celebration. ESPN reporter, host, and basketball analyst Monica McNutt commanded the Purple Carpet, setting the tone before guests ever stepped foot inside.
The stage was set. The women showed up. And the 2026 Sports Power Brunch™ delivered everything it promised and then some.
THE 2026 HONOREES
This year's honorees represented the full spectrum of what it means to be a powerful woman in sports — from the broadcast booth to the front office, from the sidelines to the commissioner's chair.
Excellence in Media Award — Presented by Porsche Maria Taylor, Sports Emmy Award-Winning Host and Broadcaster
Maria Taylor has never needed an introduction — but she deserves every accolade attached to her name. A Sports Emmy Award winner whose presence elevates every broadcast she touches, Taylor received the Excellence in Media Award in recognition of a career that has redefined what it looks like to lead from the anchor desk. Poised, powerful, and perpetually must-watch television, Taylor is one of the most influential voices in sports media today.
Spotlight Award — Presented by Prime Video Marissa Solis, Sr. Vice President – Global Brand and Consumer Marketing, NFL
Few people understand the power of a brand story better than Marissa Solis. As Senior Vice President of Global Brand and Consumer Marketing for the National Football League, Solis has been instrumental in shaping how the world's most valuable sports league connects with fans across every platform and every market. The Spotlight Award recognized her vision, her impact, and her ability to move the NFL's brand forward on a truly global scale.
Impact Award — Presented by ESPN Films Becky Hammon, Head Coach, Las Vegas Aces
Becky Hammon did not just break barriers — she demolished them. The head coach of the Las Vegas Aces has built one of the most dominant programs in women's professional basketball while simultaneously becoming one of the most respected coaches in the sport regardless of gender. The Impact Award honored a leader whose influence stretches far beyond wins and losses — a coach who has changed what is possible for every woman who comes after her.
Trailblazer Award — Presented by the NFL Kim Ng, Commissioner, Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL)
The word trailblazer was invented for careers like Kim Ng's. A groundbreaking executive whose path through professional sports has shattered glass ceilings at every turn, Ng now serves as Commissioner of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League — continuing a legacy of firsts that has inspired generations of women in sports business. The Trailblazer Award was not just fitting. It was long overdue.
Pinnacle Award — Presented by LPS Consulting PR Harpreet Basran, Chief People Officer, San Francisco 49ers
Behind every championship organization is an infrastructure of people who make excellence possible — and Harpreet Basran is one of those people. As Chief People Officer of the San Francisco 49ers, Basran has helped build and sustain a culture that extends far beyond the football field. The Pinnacle Award recognized her commitment to developing people, driving organizational excellence, and leading with both heart and purpose.
Leadership Award — Presented by the Sterling Legacy Fund Amanda Chin, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Golden State Warriors
Amanda Chin knows how to build a brand that resonates — and the Golden State Warriors' global presence is proof of that work. As Senior Vice President of Marketing for one of the NBA's most recognized franchises, Chin has demonstrated the kind of strategic vision and authentic leadership that moves organizations forward. The Leadership Award celebrated a woman whose fingerprints are all over one of sports' most powerful brands.
CREDIT: Photo by Jeff Schear/Getty Images for The Sports Power Brunch
THE CONVERSATIONS THAT MOVED THE ROOM
The honorees were remarkable — but the panels made sure the conversation went even deeper.
The Power Shift: Women's Economic Impact on Sports — Presented by Prime Video
Moderated by Danielle Smith, Vice President of U.S. The Collective at Wasserman, this panel tackled one of the most important conversations happening in sports right now — the undeniable and rapidly growing economic power of women in the industry. Panelists included Stacey Rosenson, Head of U.S. Sports Marketing at Prime Video; Quinnie Jenkins, Director of U.S. Sponsorships at Delta Air Lines; and Sarah Bishop, VP of Global Brand and Consumer Marketing at the NFL. The conversation was sharp, honest, and packed with the kind of insight that only comes from women who are living this shift in real time.
A Spotlight on ESPN's Dedication to Amplifying Women's Stories — Presented by ESPN Films
Moderated by Marsha Cooke, Vice President and Executive Producer of ESPN Originals and 30 for 30, this panel brought the storytelling side of women's sports into sharp focus. Emmy Award-winning Director and Producer Alexandria Stapleton joined Cooke for a conversation about how the most powerful stories in women's sports are being told — and why the commitment to telling them with excellence has never been more important.
A ROOM FULL OF POWER
Beyond the honorees, the panels, and the programming, the 2026 Sports Power Brunch™ was a gathering of names that command attention in every room they enter. Notable attendees included Victor Cruz, Renee Montgomery, LaChina Robinson, Swin Cash, Takeo Spikes, AJ Terrell Jr., Haley Terrell, Kimberly Chexnayder White, Kimberly Martin, Charece Williams, Dr. Kiki Baker-Barnes, Denise White, Jade-Li English, Ashlea Klam, and Dystany Spurlock.
Sponsors including ESPN Films and Fanatics brought brand activations that kept the energy alive throughout the morning, giving guests an experience that went well beyond a traditional awards brunch.
WHY THIS MOMENT MATTERS
Seven years in, the Sports Power Brunch™ is no longer just an event. It is an institution. LaTonya Story built something that fills a real void in sports — a dedicated space where the women driving this industry forward are seen, celebrated, and heard. Not as a side conversation. Not as a footnote. As the main event.
Because that is exactly what they are.
The 2026 Sports Power Brunch™ was a reminder that women are not just participating in the sports industry. They are leading it. And the list of names in that Four Seasons ballroom on this Big Game Week morning is proof that the most powerful room in sports does not always have a field in it.
Sometimes it has a purple carpet.
Event: 7th Annual Sports Power Brunch™ | Location: Four Seasons San Francisco | Big Game Week 2026 | Created by LaTonya Story
