In the best of times, sports has the power to excite and inspire, to entertain, engage and even unite. But 2020 has been anything but the best of times. Covid-19 impacted sports early and profoundly, and social injustice left an indelible mark both on and off the field. Still, Adweek’s Most Powerful Women in Sports honorees found ways to influence, innovate and raise the bar for their brands and for fans at a time when we needed sports most. Many of these remarkable women—including NWSL commissioner Lisa Baird, MLS president JoAnn Neale, Nascar’s Jill Gregory, the NHL’s Heidi Browning, MLB’s Barbara McHugh, WTA president Micky Lawler, WWE’s Stephanie McMahon, Kate Jhaveri of the NBA and our cover star Naomi Osaka—were an integral part of the groundbreaking “Real Heroes Project” in May that united 14 professional sports leagues to celebrate the country’s front-line medical workers. All of them are game-changers by any measure who come to play, no matter the circumstances. —Erik Wander
Naomi Osaka
Two-time U.S. Open tennis champion
It would be tough to pick just one career-defining moment in tennis superstar Naomi Osaka’s recent past. There’s the 2018 U.S. Open, where she beat her childhood idol, Serena Williams. She followed up that emotional victory, which she’s called “a little bit bittersweet,” with her first win at the Australian Open in 2019. And in the wake of those back-to-back Grand Slams, there was her surprise jump from Adidas to Nike in a groundbreaking deal worth $10 million. But the events of late summer 2020 may stand apart from everything that came before, making an even more lasting impression than Osaka’s straight-set blowouts and coveted endorsements.
Click here to read Adweek’s full Q&A with cover star Naomi Osaka.
Renie Anderson
Chief revenue officer and evp, NFL Partnerships, NFL
A nearly 15-year veteran of the NFL, Anderson was part of league history when its draft became one of the first virtual events cobbled together in the Covid-19 pandemic’s first few months. It went off without a hitch, as more than 8.4 million viewers tuned in, up more than 35% from the previous year. Anderson was instrumental in incorporating the league’s partners into the broadcast, with Verizon providing the internet service to coaches and players and Bose sending headphones. And to kick off a mostly fanless season, she oversaw the team that added key new partners, including Postmates, Invisalign, Subway and Best Buy. This year has been “one that no one will ever forget,” says Anderson. “ … I am inspired and motivated by the herculean efforts to bring football back in a safe and healthy way. To all women that work in sports, from the boardroom to the locker room, it can be hard, you are not alone—keep going!” —Ryan Barwick
Coaching the next generation of women in sports: “Tell women they are important and valued. Work hard and become an expert at your craft (whatever it is). Root for other women. Let’s champion each other and lift each other up.”
Lisa Baird
Commissioner, National Women’s Soccer League
Baird stepped into her new role at the NWSL on March 10—two days before the league shut down due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Still, the league posted a record-breaking year on almost every measure, from a 152% increase in social mentions to a 500% growth in domestic television audiences. The league signed new TV and streaming deals with both CBS Sports and Twitch, and brand partnerships with Google, P&G, Secret and Verizon. In June, the NWSL was the first professional team sports league to return to play and completed a 30-day tournament in a bubble without a single case of the virus. Baird says leading the league to unprecedented success amid a pandemic is among her proudest moments. “What drove me this year in particular were our players,” says Baird. “And being able to ensure that we could continue to compensate them throughout the year.” —Kathryn Lundstrom
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