Serena Williams and... basketball?

WHAT’S ON DECK

• Tell Me More: Meet the New Era of Investors Shaping Women’s Sports

• Troublemaker Spotlight: Nancy Clark, President of Verizon Value Markets

• Dear FQ: How Can I Ask for Input Without Losing Independence?

• Poll the Pack: How Career Happiness Fuels Your Success

TELL ME MORE

Athletes like Serena Williams are opening up business opportunities for players, fans, and women everywhere

Serena Williams. 

WNBA champion Sabrina Ionescu. 

Angel Reese, one of the highest-earning college athletes of her time. 

What do these athletes have in common? They’re investing in women’s sports—and not their own. This wave of investing across the industry has lasting effects, and is changing the ownership landscape for professional sports. And it’s just the beginning.

Across the board, female athletes and celebrities are increasingly investing in women's sports teams, creating a powerful ripple effect: 

• Serena Williams is a new owner of the Toronto Tempo, Canada’s first-ever WNBA team, extending her influence beyond tennis.

• 2x Grammy® Award-winning, Nigeria-based singer, songwriter, and producer Tems made history as the first African woman to own a Major League Soccer (MLS) club, joining San Diego FC's ownership group.

• WNBA star Sabrina Ionescu, named to Forbes' 30 Under 30, expanded her portfolio as an investor and commercial advisor for San Francisco Bay FC in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

“This moment is not just about basketball; it is about showcasing the true value and potential of female athletes—I have always said that women’s sports are an incredible investment opportunity.” - Serena Williams

How did we get here? In 2020, Natalie Portman teamed up with venture capitalist Kara Nortman and entrepreneur Julie Uhrman to change the landscape of women’s sports. The trio founded Angel City Football Club (ACFC) in LA, combining their tech and entertainment experience to grow the club to a market valuation of $250 million by 2024. The rise in cross-industry investment from celebrities is cyclical momentum for women: as high-profile women invest in women's sports, visibility increases, fan bases grow, and commercial opportunities expand—making these investments not just statements of solidarity, but lucrative business moves.

And with revenue projections for women’s sports across the globe surpassing $2 billion, the topic of conversation is changing from proving value to scaling smartly and sustaining momentum. 

What are sports fans known for? Loyalty. And it's paying off—big time. 67% of fans say they support the brands that sponsor their favorite teams and athletes. That loyalty is fueling a powerful flywheel of revenue and return on investment for women’s sports—through media rights, game-day sales, and commercial revenue like merch and sponsorships.

Household-name athletes from Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese to Naomi Osaka, A’ja Wilson, and Iga Świątek aren’t just dominating in their sports—they’re building brands, signing major endorsement deals, and bringing entire fanbases with them. Women’s teams aren’t just gaining visibility—they’re driving unprecedented profitability.

Bottom line: this isn't just about sports—it's about women making smart business investments in a rapidly growing industry, scoring record profitability, and setting up future generations of investors and athletes for major wins.

TROUBLEMAKER SPOTLIGHT

Nancy Clark, President of Verizon Value Markets

Nancy Clark isn’t afraid to shake things up in order to see impactful results—both in her own career and for the teams she manages. It goes way back—early in her finance career, Nancy had a stark realization: accounting was not her calling. So she shook things up, and it was the right call. 

She went on to become Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales Operations and Senior Vice President of Operational Excellence for Verizon Wireless—the telecommunications powerhouse with over 100 million customers. In 2024, Nancy became President of Verizon Value Markets after 24 years with the company. What got her there? A fierce dedication to customer success, adapting to meet ever-changing customer needs, and leading by example… even when that means shaking things up or spending 12+ hours at a retail store.

FQ: What’s the worst career advice you’ve gotten?

Once, a boss told me that if I really wanted to advance in my career, which was in finance at the time, I’d need to become a tax accountant. With no offense to tax accountants, I knew that was not my path. So, I did not take that advice, and instead shifted immediately to sales and marketing. It all worked out!

What’s the best piece of non-obvious career advice you’ve gotten?

I always worked in businesses that had substantial retail footprints, and it wasn’t unusual for corporate management to do store visits to “stay close to the customer.” But one boss took it a step further, and it’s stuck with me ever since.

When he went to a store, he would go at 7:30am, right when it opened. And he’d stay right up until close, at 7:30pm. It allowed him to have that real, lived experience of the store employees, and become truly enmeshed in the customer experience. I started doing the same, and the insights I gained were game-changing. There’s no substitute for being in it.

What was a “heartbeat moment” for you in your career?

I’m not sure if this was a “heartbeat moment” or a tough-love one, but years ago, I was in a job I absolutely loved. I was always someone who thought a few steps ahead, and I started to realize that 10 years down the line, the role I was in wouldn’t exist.

Technology was changing. The industry was evolving. The writing was on the wall.

So—even though it was hard—I made the decision to leave that job and take on something new to get ahead of the curve.

It was really tough, and as it turns out, I didn’t love the new job.  But now, years later, I know I made the right call. Sometimes, progress doesn’t feel good in the moment—but that doesn’t mean it’s not right.

Imagine you just received the telco version of an Emmy award. Who are the three people you’re thanking?

Aparna Khurjekar, Verizon’s CRO of Business & SaaS; Monica Hammond, Verizon’s SVP of Customer Success; and Diana Zaccardi, Verizon’s SVP of Digital Marketing & Base Management. 

These women all work at my current job, and I’ve worked with them for the better part of a decade. Collectively, they’re my own personal Board of Directors and truth-tellers—the people who I can have candid conversations with, the people who challenge me, and who ultimately make me better.

Where have you caused trouble?

In my current role! I came into a newly formed organization that was struggling. We were losing customers, and we needed to turn the business around. I made some uncomfortable moves—I call them “crunchy”—like bringing in a new leadership team, ripping out old technology and replacing it with new tech, and completely redesigning brands. 

And I didn’t ask for permission. 

I was lucky to have the full support of my own boss, and he really let me take some big swings. In the course of one year, we reported positive growth for the first time in years, which is awesome proof that it’s working!

Want to nominate a Troublemaker you admire? You can do so here.

DEAR FQ

Your burning career questions answered

Alexa Comeau of The Female Quotient weighs in:

Someone once told me that “Your job is to make your boss's life easier,” and it has always stuck with me. Managing up is the key to having a strong and fruitful relationship with your manager, while advancing your career. So, the good news is you're already thinking about this situation strategically. 

When you receive assignments that could benefit from additional context, here’s what I recommend:

• Start with a plan: Create a detailed outline of your approach, which naturally reveals any information gaps.

• Get clarity, not permission: Schedule a brief meeting or Slack your manager with targeted questions that will help you fulfill your assignment.

• Be solution-oriented: Make sure to include solutions and suggestions in these queries, in order to stay proactive.

Beyond individual assignments, use your 1:1s wisely: 

• Provide updates on key projects so your accomplishments are visible.

• Share your priorities so you know that you’re aligned.

• Bring an agenda/ list of questions to make the most of your time together. 

And yes—this is the time to brag a little. You’re doing great work. Make sure it gets seen.  

P.S. Got a burning career question? Serve it up here to Dear FQ to score advice from a powerhouse leader in our network.

POLL THE PACK

Love What You Do: How Career Happiness Fuels Success

When you look at the way your career is progressing, your happiness is a powerful KPI. Not only do happier workers report a 13% increase in productivity, but a sense of purpose at work is attributed to more confidence and self-esteem. 

And with increased confidence comes increased pay. Up to 82% of employees who ask for a raise are likely to receive one within the year. And with emerging technology rapidly changing the way we work, it’s important to develop your skills now more than ever. Employees who take part in ongoing training and development tend to be more productive and innovative, and can more easily adapt to changing goals and needs.

The numbers don’t lie—building a career path that keeps you fulfilled and excited to show up to work is good for the business and future you. 

Follow Nancy’s advice, and when the path looks unclear, ask: what would 10-years-from-now me do? You’ve got this.

Xo,

The FQ

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