Emma Hayes was named as the 10th full-time head coach in U.S. Women’s National Team history on November 14, 2023. She officially joined U.S. Soccer in May of 2024 and coached her first matches in early June. Hayes then memorably led the USWNT to the 2024 Olympic gold medal in just her 10th match in charge, guiding the USA to six consecutive victories in France while winning all three knockout games by 1-0 scores, with the quarterfinal and semifinal taking 120 minutes to decide. 
  
On Oct. 28, 2024, Hayes won her first world award as head coach of the USWNT when she was named the winner of the first Ballon d’Or given to women’s soccer coaches. On Dec. 17, she won her second, being named FIFA The Best Women’s Coach, marking the second time she has won the FIFA award for world women’s coach of the year. 
  
In 2025, true to her word of expanding and deepening the USWNT player pool in preparation for the run to qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, Hayes gave 44 players minutes in matches and 16 players their first caps, both highs in a calendar year in the 40-year history of the USWNT.

Before coming to U.S. Soccer, Hayes was the long-time head coach for Chelsea FC, one of the most successful women’s teams in Europe. In 2024, she won her fifth consecutive Women’s Super League title. It was her seventh WSL title, the most in league history. Hayes left Chelsea with 15 trophies won, which included one Community Shield. 

As a Designer and Creative Director, her perspective is deeply shaped by Black American regional subculture and her decade-long music career. A product of the DMV’s club and Go-Go scenes, Domo Wells became a cultural favorite through her tailored approach to fusing hip-hop with Black American regional sub-genres. Building a niche following of music lovers who value high-energy hip-hop sets, she went on to DJ for artists including Pusha T, Pharrell, Brent Faiyaz, Nigo, Alicia Keys, Swizz Beatz, and more. 

Passionate about delivering storytelling rooted in authenticity, Domo has built a trusted cross-industry community spanning Sports, Music, and Fashion—not only because of her execution, but because of her integrity. Through graphic design, cut-and-sew, and photography, she uses multiple mediums to articulate her vision. 
In 2024, she made history as the first Black woman Creative Director in the NWSL with the Washington Spirit, while also DJing and hosting Revolt’s Future of Fashion alongside Law Roach and Kollin Carter, and serving as the official DJ for Vice President Kamala Harris’ Hip-Hop 50 Celebration. Her business has continued to scale, highlighted by partnerships with Unrivaled, the Golden State Valkyries and a major multi-year licensing deal with the NWSL to design merchandise across all 16 clubs.  

Her ability to create across industries has led her to work with brands such as Mercedes-Benz, Apple, BET, ViacomCBS, Showtime, Paramount, Red Bull, and Netflix—consistently cultivating authentic communities everywhere she goes.

Haley Rosen is the Founder and CEO of Just Women’s Sports, the largest and fastest-growing digital media brand dedicated to women’s sports. A Stanford graduate and former professional soccer player, Haley has been named to both Forbes’ 30 under 30 and Entrepreneur’s 20 Leaders Defining Entrepreneurship Today.

Alexandra (Lex) Chalat joined U.S. Soccer in January 2025 to lead Soccer Forward, U.S. Soccer’s 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup legacy initiative. Soccer Forward is dedicated to improving lives and strengthening communities through the most accessible sport in America. An experienced leader, Lex has developed purpose-driven partnerships and supported local communities in more than 20 countries. 

Previously, she was at the Qatar Foundation (QF), where she served as Director of Legacy and Community Engagement. In the lead up to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, she was part of a team responsible for coordinating the organization’s more than 50 entities across education, research, and community development to ensure that it holistically maximized the world’s biggest sports tournament and enabled long-lasting impact. This included spearheading the region’s first-ever performing arts festival; creating a program that shared first-hand the impact the World Cup had on Qatar residents, delivering sports programming for hundreds of Afghan refugees; and activating QF’s dynamic campus, Education City, through accessible and educational content.  

With the tournament completed, she transitioned to the office of QF CEO and Vice-Chairperson, Her Excellency Sheikha Hind Bint Hamad Al-Thani, as Executive Director of Partnerships and Strategic Alignment to lead on priority projects, including the national women’s and girls’ sports strategy; national volunteering strategy; and strategy legacy plan for Education City Stadium. She also oversaw key partnerships and strategic initiatives for QF, from working on a new invention education center, to a refugee scholarship program, to contributing to expanding FIFA’s Football for Schools program across the region.  

Prior to life in Qatar, Lex was Managing Director of the Beyond Sport Foundation, which convenes, funds and supports organizations using sport as a tool for social change. After joining in 2008, Lex helped the organization grow from the ground up while also co-founding thinkBeyond in 2014, a sister advisory firm that provides ways for governments, companies and charities across the world to create positive social change using sport. 

For the last 15 years, Lex has worked and lived in more than 20 countries curating programs and partnerships around sport’s role in hard-hitting issues like the refugee crisis, youth gun crime and racial and ethnic divides. She’s led on projects that have included developing ESPN’s global community engagement approach, activating the International Olympic Committee's Sport for All policies, crafting SAP’s vision and implementation to be a purpose-driven sport sponsor, and finding new ways BT Sport (a live sports platform available in the U.K. and India) can engage younger, socially conscious fans. She’s developed global CSR, purpose-driven sponsorship strategies for brands like Unilever, Bloomberg, Virgin and Disney and been involved on various legacy projects from South Africa to London to Brazil to Glasgow. She’s helped advise influential entities from the Holy See to the U.S. State Dept. to the World Economic Forum and spearheaded partnerships with MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, MLS, NASCAR, the Premier League and Premiership Rugby. She’s also worked with greats like Archbishop Desmond Tutu, David Beckham, Muhammad Ali, Tony Blair, Michael Johnson, Tiger Woods and Billie Jean King. 

She has appeared on BBC, Sky News, Al Jazeera, and Canada TV and has contributed to several academic journals and publications on the socio-economic impact of major sporting events. She also sits on the Board of Directors for Beyond Sport Foundation, Green Sports Foundation and the Brian Dawkins Impact Foundation.  

A graduate of University of Pennsylvania and London School of Economics, she is an avid believer of the power that sport has to change lives for the better. She currently resides in NYC and is the mother to twins, Saoirse and Sebastian. 

Courtney Carter is the Chief Revenue Officer for MLS’ Seattle Sounders FC and NWSL’s Seattle Reign FC, where she leads global revenue strategy across partnerships, brand marketing, and commercial innovation. In 2025, she was named an ADWEEK Sports Marketing MVP for her groundbreaking work at the intersection of sport, culture, and content. Bringing innovation, inclusivity, and storytelling to two top-flight soccer clubs, Carter has elevated both brands through globally resonant campaigns, acclaimed kit launches, and purpose-driven partnerships, including Trupanion, Paula’s Choice, and CVS with Seattle Reign FC. She is known for building culturally relevant moments that drive meaningful revenue growth and long-term brand value.

Beth has produced large-scale, special events for over 35 years in the events, sports and entertainment industry. As president and CEO of the Seattle Sports Commission (SSC), she leads efforts to attract and host premier sporting events in the Greater Seattle Region, including MLB All-Star Game, Clipper International Sailing Race, NHL Winter Classic, NCAA Women’s and Men’s Basketball and 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Seattle is currently preparing to host the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup, for which Beth serves as Board Chair of the Seattle Local Organizing Committee.  
  
Beth also leads the SSC Foundation, a charitable nonprofit supporting equitable access to youth and women’s sports. 
  
Past leadership roles include the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games, Seattle’s annual Seafair festival, Bumbershoot Arts & Music Festival and 4th of July fireworks show, as well as the 2x Seahawks Super Bowl Victory Parades and Sounders FC MLS Cup 2x Championship Parades.  
 

Doug is passionate about creating empathic solutions to complex social challenges. As the recipient of the Martin Luther King Jr. Medal of Distinguished Service Award and the Paul G. Allen Humanitarian Award, the Super Bowl Champion is the youngest ever appointee to the WA State Clemency and Pardons Board. But most importantly, Doug is a blessed husband and father.

Jen Barnes is the founder and CEO of Rough & Tumble, the world’s first company purpose-built for gender equity in sports viewing and fandom. Since launching in 2022, she has led Rough & Tumble to become a national leader in the women’s sports sector—transforming how we watch, celebrate, and come together around the game.Jen’s passion for gender equity in sports and business is grounded in over 25 years of building vibrant, award-winning companies — and in her own experience as an athlete and avid sports fan. In addition to founding Rough & Tumble, Jen has partnered with NWSL players and WNBA owners to co-found Salmon Bay FC, Seattle’s first pre-professional women’s soccer team, expanding opportunities for women athletes and fans alike.Jen was recently named one of Seattle’s 25 Most Influential People and honored as a Seattle Reign FC Legend for her lasting contributions to the future of women’s sports. She currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Seattle FIFA World Cup Pride Match Inclusion Committee, and is a Commissioner for the Seattle Sports Commission. Jen speaks regularly as an expert on the women’s sports industry sector and the business of women’s sports, including recently as a TEDTalk speaker.

Dr. Colleen M. Hacker, Ph.D. is an internationally recognized Speaker and Consultant in Performance Psychology. She has served as a member of the coaching staff for six Olympic Games (both Winter and Summer). In those Olympic Games, her teams have won four Gold Medals and two silver medals. She is a Certified Mental Performance Coach, a member of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee Mental Performance Directory and, is a Fellow in the National Academies of Practice. In addition to her work with numerous United States National and Olympic Teams, Dr. Hacker served a 12-years tenure on the coaching staff for the USWNT for both Olympic Games and World Cups. She has also served as the Mental Skills coach for several Youth National soccer Teams including the U16, U19 and U23 National Teams. Dr. Hacker was a member of the coaching staff for USA Hockey for 10 years including numerous World Championships and two Olympic Games during her tenure. Most recently, she serves as the mental skills coach for the US Women who have won back-to-back titles in the Million Dollar TST 7s Tournament.

Dr. Hacker also serves as the mental skills coach to professional athletes in a variety of sports including the MLB, NFL, MLS, NWSL, PGA and USA lacrosse, ice hockey field hockey, swimming & equestrian, to name a few. Much in demand as a speaker and consultant, Dr. Hacker has delivered over 200 professional presentations and published more than 45 articles, and is the author of two books, Catch Them Being Good and her most recent, “Achieving Excellence:  Mastering Mindset for Peak Performance in Sport and Life".   Dr. Hacker has received numerous professional awards including the Distinguished Professional Practice Award from AASP (the first woman in the world to achieve that honor), the American Psychological Association’s Presidential Citation and ESPNW named Dr. Hacker as one of 30 women in the country who “change the way sports are played”.  She has been inducted into seven different Hall of Fames either as an athlete or for her coaching success including being the first woman in the United States inducted into the United Soccer Coaches Hall of Fame. As a coach, her teams played for the National Championship five times, winning three, intercollegiate National Championships, the first female head coach in the US to do so. Corporations seek her strategies for peak performance along with business groups, professional sport teams, and both print and television media. Dr. Hacker has conducted extensive applied research in the field of sport psychology with particular emphasis on peak performance, team building, resilience, and mental toughness training for excellence.

 Ashley Fosberg is the Chief Impact & Fan Engagement Officer for Seattle Sounders FC and Seattle Reign FC. Fosberg oversees the strategy and execution of fan experiences, both on matchdays and in the community. Her purview also includes Fan Development, prioritizing efforts to identify and serve new audiences for Sounders and Reign, as well as the stadium operations function for both clubs, which includes supervising the planning of matchdays at Lumen Field and other venues with the goal of making the fan experience seamless and memorable. Fosberg also continues to serve in her original role as Executive Director of RAVE Foundation, the charitable arm of both clubs – leading impact and philanthropic initiatives. Fosberg brings extensive community-building and nonprofit experience to the role, having served as Executive Director of Highline Schools Foundation, as Seattle Art Museum’s Director of Marketing, and Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Director of Communications. She started her career in broadcasting at Seattle's KOMO 4 NEWS in television and radio promotions.  

Maya Mendoza-Exstrom is a long-tenured American soccer executive, operating at the intersection of professional sports, civic leadership, and community impact. Entering her third season as Chief Business Officer of Seattle Reign FC in 2026, she oversees all strategy, revenue, business operations, growth, impact, and organizational culture for one of the most storied clubs in the NWSL.  
  
A Seattle native, Maya previously spent over a decade with Seattle Sounders FC, most recently serving as Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel.  Prior to joining the Sounders, Maya was in private legal practice. In 2013, she helped found the RAVE Foundation, the official charitable partner for both Seattle Reign FC and Seattle Sounders FC, where she still serves on the board. She also co-chaired Seattle’s successful bid to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup and currently serves on the board of the Seattle World Cup Local Organizing Committee.  
  
A former All-American soccer player, Maya credits the generation of women soccer players in Seattle in the 1980s as her heroes – including the four members of the USWNT from Seattle on the 1991 team.  Her impact off the pitch extends into extensive board leadership with several civic and cultural organizations, including the Wing Luke Museum, Seattle Parks Foundation and Seattle Metro Chamber among others. Her work centers on building durable sports organizations, expanding access and equity, and shaping the future of the global game from Seattle. 

Catherine Newman joined U.S. Soccer in July 2024 as Chief Marketing Officer and in January 2025, added Communications to her responsibilities as the Chief Marketing & Communications Officer. Newman leads the Federation’s efforts around communications, brand development, including meaningful storytelling and content, digital and social engagement, overarching insight-driven marketing, the Insiders loyalty program, and a diversified direct-to-consumer strategy. 

Most recently, Catherine was the Executive Vice President, Marketing for World Wrestling Entertainment and before that was the first-ever CMO for Manchester United FC. At WWE, her global focus was growing fan engagement, managing media partners to increase viewership, accelerating revenue growth, and evolving the WWE brand. Recognized in the 2023 Forbes Entrepreneurial CMO 50, she developed a new meta psychology for fan segmentation that led to more efficient and effective fan targeting, expanding reach and revenues across the business. 

At Manchester United, she had ownership of all global direct-to-consumer marketing campaigns with a focus on fan development and engagement, personalization, and ROI. There she successfully overhauled the marketing strategy and delivered record growth in app sign-ups and registrations, making the new Manchester United app the most downloaded and engaged sports club app globally. Catherine built a new cross-club performance marketing function driving record revenue growth across direct-to-consumer revenue lines. 

Prior to this Catherine held C-suite roles at Times Newspapers, News Corp and the Financial Times, London. She is a Loughborough University Alumni, a Chartered Institute of Marketing postgraduate, and a Marketing Academy Fellow & mentor. She is based in Atlanta with her family where they all share a love of soccer. 
  

 David Wright is a senior sports and entertainment executive with a proven track record of enterprise leadership, organizational transformation, and long-term value creation. He currently serves as Chief Commercial Officer of the U.S. Soccer Federation, where he is a key member of the executive leadership team responsible for advancing the Federation’s growth, relevance, and financial sustainability during one of the most consequential periods in U.S. Soccer history. 
 
In his role, Wright leads an integrated portfolio spanning marketing, brand, media, partnerships, consumer products, events, communications, and new business ventures—driving both near-term performance and long-term institutional impact. With the United States hosting the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup and set to host the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Wright plays a central role in shaping the Federation’s enterprise strategy, expanding fan and stakeholder engagement, and building diversified, durable revenue streams to support the future growth of the game. 
 
Since joining U.S. Soccer in 2020, Wright has helped architect and scale a modern, fully integrated commercial infrastructure, repositioning the Federation as a significant contributor within the global soccer economy and the broader sport and entertainment landscape. Under his leadership, U.S. Soccer has secured transformational, long-term partnerships—including the largest commercial agreement in Federation history with Nike, as well as landmark media and commercial relationships with Warner Bros. Discovery, NBCUniversal Telemundo, Bank of America, Chobani, Coca-Cola, The Home Depot, Volkswagen, and others. As a result, annual commercial revenue has increased by more than 300 percent, with contracted revenue surpassing $1 billion. This financial growth and long-term visibility directly enabled the Federation to secure funding for the $250 million Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center in Atlanta, a cornerstone investment in the future of U.S. Soccer. 
 
Prior to U.S. Soccer, Wright served as Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer of Minor League Baseball (MiLB), where he oversaw all marketing and commercial functions across a complex, 160-club national ecosystem. Working closely with league leadership and club owners, Wright led enterprise-wide strategy, brand development, media, communications, business development, and partnership marketing, while also launching and scaling MiLB Enterprises—an initiative designed to unlock enterprise value through integrated national and regional partnerships. During his tenure, national enterprise revenue grew by 120 percent, and MiLB was recognized by Sports Business Journal as a Sport Breakthrough Property of the Year finalist. 
 
Wright joined Minor League Baseball following a 15-year career with Major League Soccer (MLS) and Soccer United Marketing (SUM), where he held multiple senior leadership roles. As Senior Vice President, Global Sponsorship, he led commercial partnerships for some of the most prominent soccer properties in North America, including MLS, U.S. Soccer, and the Mexican National Team. Earlier, as Director of Fan Development, he built league-wide strategies to engage participants, influencers, and grassroots stakeholders—experience that continues to inform his holistic approach to growth, culture, and community impact. 
Recognized as a former Sports Business Journal Forty Under 40 honoree, Wright is known for his ability to align vision, culture, and execution across large, matrixed organizations. A former collegiate athlete, he earned a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology from Indiana University, where he was a member of the men’s soccer team, winning four Big Ten Championships and competing in two NCAA College Cups. He also holds a Master of Science in sport management from the University of Massachusetts. 
  

Sara Walsh is an Emmy Award winning sports anchor and reporter who has spent the last 20 years covering the biggest sports stories in the country. Currently you can see her on both NFL Network and TNT Sports, where she hosts all U.S. Mens and Women's National Team Soccer Coverage. 

While at NFLN, Walsh covered Tom Brady's move to Tampa and the Bucs Super Bowl Run. She was on the game broadcast for the NFL's first international game played in Germany. She currently hosts TNT's pregame, halftime and postgame coverage of US Soccer National Team games.Previously Walsh spent 4 years at Fox Sports as a member of their NFL on Fox broadcast teams, and also covered college football, U.S. National team soccer, Nascar and the Westminster Dog Show. 

Walsh spent 7 years at ESPN on SportsCenter and has also hosted such shows as ESPN's Fantasy Football Now, NFL Live, SportsNation and currently NFLN's Good Morning Football. 

A product of the Tampa Bay area, Walsh was a three-sport athlete in high school and still holds the Gulf High school record for the 100 meter hurdles. She went on to play collegiate soccer at the University of North Florida where she was a 4-year starter and holds the record for goals and points in a game.

Hilary Knight is a two-time Olympic Gold medalist, three-time Olympic Silver medalist, 10x World Champion and arguably the best female hockey player in the world. As hockey’s “Captain America,” Hilary helped lead the USA Women’s Hockey team to another Gold Medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics, where Hilary hit the clutch goal to send the game into overtime. Hilary currently holds the records for most goals and most all-time points for Team USA at the Olympics. She also holds the record for most all-time points, most goals scored all-time and has the most gold medals of any player at the Women’s World Championships. Hilary was the first-ever recipient of the IIHF Female Player of the Year in 2023 and a three-time winner of the USA Hockey Bob Allen Award.  
 
Hilary was extremely successful at the collegiate level as well. She was a three-time All-American and appeared in the NCAA Final all four of her years as a Badger, leading Wisconsin to the title her sophomore and junior seasons. Hilary was the first-ever recipient of the IIHF Female Player of the Year in 2023. 
 
A five-time Olympian and MBA graduate, Hilary is a veteran leader on the US Women’s Hockey Team and was one of the leading voices during the USWNT’s fight for equitable pay. Hilary played an instrumental role in building the new women’s hockey league, the PWHL, from the ground up. Her goal was to build a sustainable professional women’s hockey league for generations to come. An outspoken advocate for gender equality, Hilary is changing the landscape for women in sport. Hilary signed with the PWHL Seattle expansion team in 2025. When she’s not on the ice, Hilary spends her time in Salt Lake City with her fiancée, fellow Winter Olympian Brittany Bowe. 

TNT Sports soccer commentator, Foudy has provided match and studio analysis since 2023. One of the world’s preeminent female soccer stars, Foudy helped lead the USWNT to two FIFA World Cup championships and a pair of Olympic gold medals during her remarkable 17-year international career. The former team captain amassed an impressive 271 international caps between 1987 and 2004. The first American to receive the FIFA Fair Play Award, she was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2007. She was a four-time All-American at Stanford. Previously, she contributed as an analyst with ESPN, and beyond the game she is an author, television producer, podcaster and former president of the Women’s Sports Foundation.

Two-time Olympic medalist and six-time World Champion Brittany Bowe is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished and respected athletes in the history of U.S. speed skating. Over a career spanning more than a decade, Bowe became a four-time Olympian, served as Team USA’s flag bearer at the 2022 Winter Olympics, and earned more than 90 World Cup medals. A dominant force in the 1,000m, she set a world record in the event and authored one of the most remarkable stretches in the sport’s history—winning seven consecutive World Cup races from 2018–2019, the longest streak ever by an American woman. 
Beyond her competitive success, Bowe’s legacy is defined by leadership and integrity. At the 2022 U.S. Olympic Trials, she relinquished her qualifying position in the 500m after teammate Erin Jackson experienced a slip/misstep, ensuring Jackson—then the world’s top-ranked sprinter—could compete in Beijing. Jackson went on to win Olympic gold, and Bowe’s gesture earned her the ISU Fair Play Award and global recognition as one of the most selfless acts in Olympic history. 
Bowe closed her career at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Games, proudly representing Team USA for a fourth time. In a fitting and celebratory final chapter, she also announced her engagement to U.S. women’s hockey captain and Olympic gold medalist Hilary Knight during the Games. 
Off the ice, Bowe is a passionate advocate for inclusion and athlete empowerment, serving as an ambassador for organizations including Right To Play and the Out Athlete Fund. Her journey from inline skating world champion to Olympic icon makes her a powerful voice on performance, resilience, and purpose. 

Rosie White joined U.S. Soccer’s Kang Women’s Institute in 2025, after being part of the Institute for two years prior to its integration with U.S. Soccer. A former professional soccer player and New Zealand international with over 100 caps, Rosie brings both elite playing experience and a deep understanding of athlete needs. Before KWI, she co-founded a movement and mindfulness platform for children with autism. Driven by a passion for women’s sport and female health advocacy, Rosie focuses on translating research and best practices into accessible, athlete-centered education.

Stacy Johns is the Chief Executive Officer for Bay Football Club (Bay FC), where she oversees all business operations. 
 
Johns brings extensive leadership experience across Major League Soccer (MLS) and the National Football League (NFL). She joins Bay FC from Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC), where she served as Chief Business Officer for the club and BMO Stadium. During her tenure, LAFC secured the largest naming rights deal in MLS history, achieved the league’s first billion-dollar valuation. Under her leadership, BMO Stadium became a globally recognized entertainment destination, surpassing 1 million tickets sold for three consecutive years, earning recognition from Pollstar and Billboard as a top global touring venue. 
 
Recognized as a Women In Sports Events (WISE) Woman of Inspiration and a Sports Business Journal Game Changer, Johns has also held international leadership roles with Grasshopper Club Zurich, FC Bayern Munich, and the European Football Clubs. Prior to her time in football, Johns spent 16 years with the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, where she held senior leadership roles, including six years as Vice President of Finance and Human Resources, where she also led the club’s business and data strategy to drive long-term growth and informed decision-making. 
 
Johns began her career as a CPA with Ernst & Young and Eli Lilly and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Butler University.   

Sarah Gregorius is the Vice President of Sporting for the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), where she leads the league’s overall sporting strategy, competition framework and player pathway initiatives. 
Prior to joining the NWSL, Sarah served as Director of Global Policy and Strategic Relations for Women’s Football at FIFPRO, the global union for professional football players. In that role, which she held for three years after first joining the organization in September 2019, she guided policy and strategic development in women’s football, overseeing efforts to improve and accelerate the professional women’s football industry and the working conditions for players in their club and national team environments. 
Sarah played professional and international football for a decade before joining FIFPRO. During this time, she earned 100 caps for the New Zealand Women’s National Team, participating in three FIFA Women’s World Cups (2011, 2015, 2019) and two Olympic Games (2012, 2016). She played professionally in Germany, England and Japan and was part of the Liverpool team that won the FA Women’s Super League in 2013. 
Whilst playing football, she completed a Master of Philosophy in Social Anthropology, in addition to earning an undergraduate degree in Business Administration prior to playing professionally. She previously worked for the New Zealand Professional Footballers’ Association, where she helped the organization deliver the first gender-equal collective agreement covering both men’s and women’s senior international footballers under a single umbrella. 

Shelly Gillyard is Vice President of Marketing at Netflix, where she oversees Live and Nonfiction Marketing and Global Events, With over 20 years of experience across live television events and brand management, she leads  marketing for Netflix’s expanding slate of live and Nonfiction programming and plays a key role in stewarding cross-functional and external partnerships as the company grows its live offerings across the NFL, MLB, WWE, FIFA, and more. 
 
Gillyard has led marketing campaigns for some of Netflix’s most high-profile titles and cultural moments, including BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE | ARIRANG, Paul vs. Tyson fight, Canelo vs. Crawford, and NFL Christmas Day games featuring a Beyoncé halftime performance followed by Snoop Dogg and friends.  
 
Her Netflix portfolio has also spanned scripted global hits such as Bridgerton, Squid Game, Stranger Things, Wednesday, One Piece, and Outer Banks. In addition, she oversaw marketing for key fan and brand events including Netflix Is A Joke Festival, Poguelandia: An Outer Banks Fan Event, and Geeked Week. 
 
Since Gillyard began leading the team in 2023, Netflix received their first Silver Lion Award at Cannes for the Wednesday Hates Marketing Campaign. Additionally, Netflix won the prestigious Clio Awards for Television / Streaming Network of the Year Award consecutively in 2022 and 2023 and the Grand Clio for the Integrated Campaign for Wednesday and Stranger Things.  
 
Previously, she was at Nike Inc. as the Senior Director Catalyst Marketing based in Los Angeles. In this position, Gillyard oversaw all influencer relationships across North America, including partnerships with Travis Scott, Olivia Kim, Angela Davis and Kendrick Lamar.  In 2020, Gillyard was instrumental in producing the largest influencer marketing event in Nike history with Forum 2020. Over 60 influencers from around the globe attended the New York event including Drake, Rosalia and Virgil Abloh. 
  
Prior to Nike, Gillyard was Executive Vice President, Talent, Music and Events for Nickelodeon Group, overseeing talent relations across all content including series, live TV events, and music programming for all brands within the Nickelodeon portfolio. Gillyard was a driving force in creating content and assembling the all-star line ups serving as Executive Producer, for the network’s annual star-studded live TV events, including the Kids’ Choice Awards, Kids’ Choice Sports and Nickelodeon HALO Awards.  
  
Earlier in her career, Gillyard held roles with The Steven Rifkind Company where she was responsible for coordinating publicity and promotional efforts for feature films, and Cathcart Public Relations where she managed accounts for MCA, Virgin, Loud Records, Columbia Records and Nickelodeon. Gillyard is a graduate of California State University, Northridge with a BA in Radio and Television Production.  

Melinda French Gates is a philanthropist, businesswoman, and global advocate for women and girls.   
  
For over 25 years, Melinda has led efforts to unlock a healthier, more prosperous, more equal future. Today, she heads Pivotal, a group of organizations she founded to accelerate the pace of social progress for women and young people in the U.S. and around the world. Previously, she founded and co-chaired the Gates Foundation, where, for more than two decades, she set the direction and priorities of the world’s largest philanthropy. Melinda is also the author of the bestselling books The Next Day and The Moment of Lift, and the creator of Moment of Lift Books, an imprint publishing original nonfiction by visionaries working to unlock a more equal world.   
  
Melinda grew up in Dallas, Texas, and attended Duke University, where she received a bachelor's degree in computer science and economics and an MBA. She spent the first decade of her career developing multimedia products at Microsoft before leaving the company to focus on her family and philanthropic work. Melinda has three children—Jenn, Rory, and Phoebe—and lives in Seattle, Washington. 

Cindy Parlow Cone, a trailblazer in American soccer, lays claim to an illustrious athletic career that includes being part of the legendary 1999 Women’s World Cup Championship team, two Olympic gold medal teams, and induction into the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

Consistently breaking barriers, Cindy made history as the first woman elected U.S. Soccer President, bringing with her over two decades of invaluable experience. Her executive track record includes revenue and profit growth, increased stakeholder engagement, large-scale infrastructure development, union negotiations, and thought leadership.

Cone has led cultural transformation efforts to enhance talent recruitment, retention, and development, while prioritizing key initiatives. She also guided U.S. Soccer’s shift to better serve the sport at all levels, transforming stakeholder engagement strategy to create a more inclusive and engaged membership.

She was instrumental in the Women’s National Team litigation settlement and, through extensive labor negotiations, achieved equal pay agreements with both the U.S. Women’s National Team Players Association and the U.S. Men’s National Team Players Association—making U.S. Soccer the first and only federation in the world to achieve equal pay.

Cone also led the transition of U.S. Soccer’s commercial rights back in-house, resulting in record-breaking revenues, including doubling year-over-year partnership revenue, setting ticket sales records, and securing new media rights deals. She partnered with philanthropic and corporate organizations, as well as local and state governments, to build U.S. Soccer’s first National Training Center and headquarters to serve all 27 national teams, including five disability national teams.

Cone is currently chairing U.S. Soccer’s bid to host the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup. As part of the legacy of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, she is actively working to make soccer more accessible so that every child can walk, ride their bike, or take public transportation to a safe place to play.

Suneeta, is a community educator, activist, non-profit founder of WAVES, bio-based green home builder, former whatcom planning commissioner, environmental justice practitioner, 2026 "Catalyst" nominee (Rachel Carson Foundation), foster youth college coach with the College Success Foundation, classroom teacher, and athlete. Her passions and life's work revolve around environmental justice, formation of a state-wide community land trust built with HEMPcrete constructed ADUs and food sovereignty.  "coach suni" to many basketball, tennis, soccer and track students, her newest hobby to play is pickleball and indoor 7v7 soccer. As a global citizen, she has visited 23 countries, lived in 3, and is a proud member of the United Nations Football for the Goals program under the WAVES mission to "seek climate, racial and social justice through sports." 
 
She stewards lands on the unceded and traditional territory of the Coast Salish peoples. Daughter of South-African-Indian Saras Eisenberg and the late paraplegic-athelete father Dr. Brian Eisenberg of UW Medicine teacher of the year. 

Don Heisler is a partner with Deloitte & Touche LLP and serves as its Seattle Managing Partner, responsible for representing Deloitte's world-class businesses and supporting Deloitte’s commitment to the Seattle community. 

Leah is a leader in Deloitte Consulting’s Media & Entertainment practice, focusing on Sports and Entertainment, with 10+ years of experience advising clients to drive growth through innovative strategies

Sheridan Blanford is the Seattle Storm’s first-ever Chief Social Impact Officer, leading the franchise’s Community and Social Impact department. A respected leader in diversity, equity, and inclusion, she develops initiatives that amplify player voices, strengthen community ties, and expand access across the Seattle region.  
Before joining the Storm, Blanford served as the University of Washington’s inaugural Associate Athletic Director for DEI, where she launched over 50 programs advancing mentorship, advocacy, and belonging. She also led strategic partnerships supporting BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and women’s communities and was named 2023 Professional Woman of the Year by the Black Student-Athlete Summit. Previously, she served as Assistant Director for the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC), focusing on student-athlete leadership and DEI efforts across member institutions.  
Blanford is co-founder of the Diversity, Inclusion & Equity Council of Excellence and a graduate of the NCAA’s Dr. Charles Whitcomb Leadership Institute. A Colorado native, she earned her bachelor’s from St. Olaf College, where she played basketball, and her master’s in Intercollegiate Athletic Leadership from the University of Washington.  

Dan Helfrich serves as Chief Operating Officer of U.S. Soccer, overseeing the Federation’s operations and advancing its mission to grow and serve the game at every level across the United States. A seasoned, purpose-driven executive with more than 27 years of experience driving transformational growth at Fortune 500 organizations, Dan leads the delivery of U.S. Soccer’s In Service to Soccer strategy while managing the Federation’s day-to-day operations. His focus is on strengthening operational excellence, optimizing business performance, and executing key strategic initiatives that position the organization for sustained growth. Dan reports to JT Batson, CEO & General Secretary of U.S. Soccer.

Dan joined U.S. Soccer in January 2026 following a distinguished 27-year career at Deloitte Consulting, the world’s largest consulting organization. Most recently, he served as Chair and CEO, guiding the firm through the most significant period of growth in its history. Over six years, he led a global organization of more than 115,000 professionals and oversaw more than $23 billion in annual revenue. Under his leadership, Deloitte Consulting expanded into new service markets, incubated innovative product and asset offerings aligned with generative AI, and advanced a comprehensive cultural and talent transformation. During this period, the firm was named Forbes’ No. 1 Consulting Firm in the Americas for four consecutive years and ranked No. 1 in worldwide consulting revenue by Gartner.

Earlier in his career, Dan held several senior leadership roles at Deloitte, including Chief Strategy Officer and leader of the firm’s Government and Public Services practice. In these roles, he led major acquisitions, enterprise transformations and strategic partnerships, while advising senior leaders across the public and private sectors on culture, leadership, and large-scale change.

A lifelong supporter of the game, Dan brings a deep personal connection to soccer. He has been involved in the sport as a player, parent, volunteer and broadcaster. A graduate of Georgetown University, he served as captain of the Hoyas men’s soccer team and was an Academic All-American. He also spent two decades as a play-by-play television broadcaster, including 15 years covering Georgetown men’s soccer and calling more than 400 matches. Most recently, he chaired U.S. Soccer’s Next Gen College Soccer Committee.

Dan holds a bachelor’s degree in international economics from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and an MBA from its McDonough School of Business. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from Georgetown University and delivered the University’s commencement address in 2023.

Based in Atlanta, Dan is committed to working alongside U.S. Soccer’s leadership, staff and partners to strengthen the Federation and help shape the future of the game in the United States.