Welcome to Last Week’s Wins #24!
Today, we celebrate International Women’s Day with three incredible wins focused on empowering women!
Weekly readers and listeners know that W-W-W strives to shine a light on innovative women in sports and entertainment through all of our work.
WINNING QUOTE
“You cannot be afraid to speak up and speak out for what you believe. You have to have courage, raw courage.”
― John Lewis, Speaking on the Selma Marches, March 7, 1965
TOGETHXR
Any brand with Alex Morgan, Sue Bird, Chloe Kim, and Simone Manuel is going to attract attention. These Olympic superstars are joining forces to change the statistic that women’s sports receive only 4% of media coverage.
TOGETHXR is a media and commerce company for women.
Alex Morgan opened up about her inspiration for creating the “To-Get-Her” organization alongside three female global icons in sport. Morgan acknowledged her admiration for LeBron James’ Uninterrupted platform as well as Derek Jeter’s publication, The Players’ Tribune, and their ability to engage audiences with positive stories.
The TOGETHXR brand is targeting multiple streams of social media to influence their next-generation audience. The brand is creating a video series amplifying women in sports and entertainment. The first series released will cover a group of female Hawaiian surfers.
This commitment towards long-term investment in women’s sports will create a platform for more ideas to grow. These four Olympic champions are laying the foundation for women in media, an industry that has been on the verge of massive growth in recent years.
“There’s never been a place dedicated to her story. A place that saw her in a way others did not. A place that heard her and elevated her voice. And gave her shoulders to stand on. We got tired of waiting for someone to build it. So we did.”
- TOGETHXR
SECRET SUPERHERO MOMS
SECRET is making a $1M pledge to enhance its long-term commitment towards reducing the burden of childcare for women.
The funds are being allocated to 100,000 women and families in twelve YWCA communities across the country. SECRET is hoping to reduce the cost of childcare as well as fund workforce development and barrier reduction programs.
A docu-series highlighting superhero moms in the pandemic is a new feature of the multi-phased Raise It Up initiative. This series of projects is committed to closing the gender wage gap.
SECRET has a strong history of positive initiatives for women in sports including the Women’s Soccer Equal Pay Program, sponsoring the NWSL 2020 Challenge Cup, and the Kick Inequality Super Bowl Ad.
"When the December job loss report showed 100% of the 140,000 job losses belonged to women, it was a breaking point.”
- Sara Saunders, Senior Brand Director, Secret/Gillette
“These women are role models in their communities, and most importantly, superheroes to their children. We are incredibly proud of our partnership with Secret and what they continue to do to embolden women everywhere.”
- Elisha Rhodes, Interim CEO, YWCA USA
RENEE MONTGOMERY: ATHLETE, ACTIVIST, OWNER, AND MORE
Last week, the Atlanta Dream went through a change in ownership. The NBA and WNBA approved the sale to the Northland real estate group, who are represented by their Chairman and COO, as well as former Atlanta Dream, and 2x WNBA Champion, Renee Montgomery.
Montgomery opted out of last season in order to focus on her work with social justice causes. Now, she gets to live out her dream (no pun intended) and have a critical role as the first former player to be an owner and a team executive.
Renee Montgomery and the entire Atlanta Dream organization, from the front office to the fans, are committed to equality through bold organizational moves. The fan base knows their voices are being heard at the top.
The Atlanta Dream played a critical role during the 2020 election, Georgia runoff election in Jan. 2021, and even today in their collaboration with More Than A Vote during the Protect Our Power campaign, fighting against voter suppression bills across the country.
“Breaking barriers for minorities and women by being the first former WNBA player to have both a stake in ownership and a leadership role with the team is an opportunity that I take very seriously."
- Renee Montgomery
“I admire their passion for women’s basketball, but more importantly, have been impressed with their values. I am also thrilled that former WNBA star Renee Montgomery will be joining the ownership group as an investor and executive for the team. Renee is a trailblazer who has made a major impact both in the game and beyond.”
- WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert
WANT TO HEAR MORE FROM IMPACTFUL AND INNOVATIVE WOMEN IN SPORTS? COME LISTEN TO THE LATEST W-W-W PODCAST FEATURING COURTNEY KSIAZEK, DIRECTOR, PARTNERSHIP MARKETING AT ANGEL CITY FC!