A series of exciting opportunities focused on providing professional development opportunities through a mix of women-centric panel discussions, networking, social events and one-on-one interactions with coaches, administrators, professional athletes, business leaders and fans of the game. The goal is creating diverse conversations to allow women leaders to show the parallel between business and basketball, specifically leadership advice for recruiting, motivating and winning as a team on the court or at the office. Come celebrate women’s basketball and women’s advancement through excellence at Tourney Town! Events and topics include: Women's Sports Leadership VIP Summit Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee Q&A and Autograph Session Striving for Equity through Para and Adaptive Sports Empowering Women and Girls in STEM This event is FREE and open to the public. Thursday Women Leading the Way in Cleveland: Hear from a lineup of established stars in sports and entertainment who are making an impact in Cleveland! During this panel, leaders from local organizations will share their journeys as women in the industry, what they have learned along the way, and what advice they would give to others on the rise in their own careers. They will also explore how their work in sports and events is enhancing Northeast Ohio and paving the path for future women leaders. Moderator: Rushia Brown: WNBA Legend and Host of Beyond the Baseline Panelists: Monica Gustin: Vice President of Business Development, Greater Cleveland Sports Commission Brooke Lowery: Vice President, Booking & Events, Rock Entertainment Group Korinth Patterson: Associate Commissioner, Championships & Sports Programs, Mid-American Conference Friday Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee Q&A and Autograph Session: Hear from some of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2024. Followed by the Q&A, fans can stick around to meet and get autographs from the inductees Moderator: Rushia Brown: WNBA Legend and Host of Beyond the Baseline Panelists: Members of the 2024 Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Class Seimone Augustus Taj McWilliams-Frankin Maya Moore-Irons Violet Palmer Sue Phillips Roonie Scovel Saturday 9:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. School of Rock Performance: Ranging in ages from 12 to 18, this all-female group from School of Rock Cleveland will electrify those in attendance with their powerful voices and musical dynamic. From Aretha Franklin to No Doubt, they will play songs from all across the musical spectrum. Be prepared to rock! All female band from School of Rock Cleveland 11:00 a.m. - Noon Striving for Equity through Parasports and Adaptive Sports: Engage and learn as parasports and adaptive sports are brought into the deserving spotlight! This panel will showcase both accomplished athletes sharing their own experiences and business leaders working to enact change through their organizations. Guests will hear about some common challenges individuals with disabilities have to navigate within sport, the exciting growth of parasports and adaptive sports across the globe, and how the athletic community can come together to embrace and include all people in all spaces. Moderator: Jean Merrill - Director of Inclusion, NCAA Panelists: Lisa Followay, President/Chief Executive Officer, Adaptive Sports Ohio Tim Fox, Head Coach, Cleveland Wheelchair Cavaliers Lindsey Zurbrugg, Paralympian, Wheelchair Basketball 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. ESPN Presents Off Day with LaChina Robinson: Join us for a conversation with ESPN’s LaChina Robinson as she takes her YouTube series, “Off Day,” to the Beyond the Baseline stage. Off Day is a series of player-focused videos where fans can get to know WNBA athletes in a one-on-one setting. From culture to fashion to passion projects – this series is dedicated to diving into both the player and person that make up the W. 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. Empowering Women and Girls in STEM: Get inspired by the power of girls and women in STEM! This session will bring together experts in a range of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Learn from these standout professionals as they discuss how their careers intersect with sport, serve up tips for forging a path in male-dominated industries, and share how to enact increased representation and respect for girls and women working in these cutting-edge fields. Moderator: Betsy Kling - Chief Meteorologist, WKYC Panelists: Dr. Nadine Lippa, Innovation Manager, Wilson Sporting Goods Dr. Jessica Watkins, NASA Astronaut Jasmine Whitfield, Project Engineer, Turner Construction Heather Fisher MS, AT, ATC - Certified Athletic Trainer, Cleveland Clinic Sunday School of Rock Performance: Ranging in ages from 12 to 18, this all-female group from School of Rock Cleveland will electrify those in attendance with their powerful voices and musical dynamic. From Aretha Franklin to No Doubt, they will play songs from all across the musical spectrum. Be prepared to rock! All female band from School of Rock Cleveland .rich-text img { display: none !important;}
