The Women’s Sports Foundation Celebrates the Transformative Power of Sport at its 2025 Annual Salute to Women in Sports® Gala – Women’s Sports Foundation

Event Overview and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

On October 22, 2025, the Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF) convened its Annual Salute in New York City, bringing together over 700 stakeholders from the women’s sports ecosystem. The event highlighted the Foundation’s role in advancing opportunities for girls and women, directly contributing to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The gathering underscored the power of collaborative action, aligning with SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, through the participation of athletes, leagues, and corporate partners including Bank of America, Delta Air Lines, ESPN, Gatorade, and NBC Sports. The Foundation’s work leverages sport as a tool for progress in health, leadership, and economic development, reinforcing SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality).

Honorees and Contributions to Gender Equality and Economic Empowerment (SDG 5 & SDG 8)

The Annual Salute recognized four individuals for their significant impact on advancing gender equality and creating sustainable economic opportunities within women’s sports. Their efforts directly support SDG 5 (Gender Equality) by challenging discriminatory norms and promoting women in leadership, and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by professionalizing the industry and fostering investment.

Billie Jean King Leadership Award: Michele Kang

• Recognized for her work in professionalizing women’s soccer through Kynisca, a global multi-team organization.
• Her investment and leadership contribute to building a sustainable economic future for women’s sports, advancing SDG 8 by creating decent work for female athletes and professionals.
• Her efforts to advance women in leadership positions within the sports industry are a direct contribution to achieving SDG 5.

Champion for Equality Award: Herbert Simon

• Honored for his long-term ownership of the WNBA’s Indiana Fever and his sustained commitment to women’s basketball.
• His dedication exemplifies the private sector’s role in promoting SDG 5 through consistent support for women’s professional leagues.
• This investment has provided stable careers for female athletes, aligning with the principles of SDG 8.

Wilma Rudolph Courage Award: Alysia Montaño

• Awarded for her advocacy for maternal rights in sport and her efforts to establish equitable policies for mothers through her non-profit, For All Mothers+.
• Her work directly addresses and seeks to eliminate discrimination against women, a key target of SDG 5.
• By championing the rights of mother-athletes, she contributes to SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), ensuring that motherhood is not a barrier to a professional athletic career.

Re-Writing the Game Award: Diana Flores

• Recognized for elevating the global profile of women’s flag football and inspiring a new generation of female athletes.
• As a global ambassador, she challenges gender stereotypes in sport, promoting positive role models which is crucial for SDG 5.
• Her success promotes physical activity and well-being, supporting the objectives of SDG 3.

Spotlight Initiatives Promoting Inclusivity and Cultural Change (SDG 10 & SDG 5)

The event also featured two spotlight initiatives that celebrate organizations actively working to reshape the sports landscape, focusing on inclusive representation and community-level support. These efforts are critical to achieving SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and reinforcing SDG 5 (Gender Equality).

Sports Culture Spotlight: TOGETHXR

• This media and commerce company, co-founded by prominent female athletes, was recognized for amplifying women’s stories.
• By shaping cultural narratives and increasing the visibility of female athletes, TOGETHXR directly contributes to the targets of SDG 5, particularly in challenging gender stereotypes in media.

Community Spotlight: Turnstone Center

• This Indiana-based non-profit was highlighted for its dedication to providing supportive services for people with disabilities.
• Turnstone Center’s work in breaking down barriers for athletes with disabilities is a clear example of action toward SDG 10, ensuring that opportunities in sport are accessible to all.

Conclusion: The Role of Sport in Advancing Global Goals

The Women’s Sports Foundation’s Annual Salute serves as a report on the progress and continued efforts within the women’s sports ecosystem to drive societal change. The work of the Foundation and its honorees demonstrates that strategic investment and collective action in sports are effective mechanisms for advancing global development priorities. By promoting participation, leadership, and professional opportunities, the WSF and its partners contribute significantly to achieving a more equitable and sustainable future, as outlined by the SDGs, particularly in the areas of gender equality (SDG 5), health and well-being (SDG 3), reduced inequalities (SDG 10), and economic growth (SDG 8).

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • The article connects sports participation directly to health benefits. It states that the Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF) “advances opportunity for girls and women that ripples across health” and later emphasizes that “sports participation – at every level – promotes better health.” This aligns with the goal of promoting well-being for all.
2. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • This is the central theme of the article. The WSF’s mission is to “ensure that every girl and woman has equal opportunity to play, to unlock their potential on and off the field.” The entire event celebrates individuals and organizations for their “transformative impact in expanding opportunity and equality” and their commitment to “gender equality and to the advancement of girls and women in sports.”
3. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • The article links women’s sports to economic opportunities. It mentions that the foundation’s work has an impact on the “economy” and honors Michele Kang for her “significant contributions to the advancement of women in the workplace” and for “building a sustainable future for women’s sports.” This points to the creation of professional careers and economic value in the women’s sports industry.
4. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • The primary focus is on reducing gender-based inequality. Furthermore, the article explicitly addresses inequality based on disability through the “Community Spotlight” which highlights the WSF’s “commitment to breaking down barriers for athletes with disabilities” by recognizing the Turnstone Center, an organization serving people with disabilities.
5. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The article is built around the concept of collaboration. It describes the Annual Salute as bringing together “more than 700 athletes and industry leaders – Olympians, Paralympians, legendary icons, team owners, leagues, and brands.” It also lists numerous National Partners (Bank of America, Delta Air Lines, ESPN), event partners, and collaborations with leagues like the NBA and WNBA, exemplifying the multi-stakeholder partnerships needed to drive change.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.
   • The WSF’s work to “ensure every girl and woman can play, compete, and lead without barriers” directly addresses the elimination of discriminatory practices that prevent participation in sports.
2. Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership.
   • The article highlights the promotion of “stronger leadership skills” through sports. It also celebrates women in leadership roles, such as Michele Kang, an investor and owner, and Diana Flores, a team captain and ambassador, thereby promoting equal opportunities for leadership.
3. Target 8.5: Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men… and equal pay for work of equal value.
   • The efforts of honorees like Michele Kang to “revolutionize women’s sports” and build a “sustainable future for women’s sports” contribute to creating professional, decent work opportunities for female athletes and professionals in the sports industry.
4. Target 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… sex, disability… or other status.
   • The foundation’s core mission promotes the inclusion of girls and women. The specific recognition of the Turnstone Center for its work with people with disabilities demonstrates a direct effort to promote the inclusion of this group in sports and community life.
5. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships.
   • The Annual Salute event itself is a manifestation of this target, uniting a civil society organization (WSF) with private sector partners (Bank of America, Gatorade, FanDuel), sports leagues (WNBA), and individuals to “drive lasting change for the future.”

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Number of women and girls participating in sports.
   • Implied by the core mission of ensuring “every girl and woman has equal opportunity to play.” An increase in participation would be a key measure of success.
2. Level of investment in women’s sports.
   • The article stresses the need for “sustained support and strategic investment.” The involvement of corporate partners and investors like Michele Kang and Herbert Simon implies that the amount of financial investment is a critical indicator of progress.
3. Number of women in leadership positions in the sports industry.
   • The celebration of leaders like Michele Kang and the focus on developing “stronger leadership skills” suggest that tracking the number of women in roles such as team owners, executives, and coaches is a relevant indicator.
4. Number of programs supporting athletes with disabilities.
   • The specific mention and recognition of the Turnstone Center implies that the existence and support of such community-level organizations are a measure of commitment to inclusivity.
5. Number and diversity of cross-sectoral partnerships.
   • The extensive list of partners from different sectors (finance, media, aviation, consumer goods) serves as an indicator of the broad-based support and collaboration being mobilized for women’s sports, as envisioned in SDG 17.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: womenssportsfoundation.org