New York – September 07, 2026 -- The Women's Capital Summit will convene investors, league executives and founders to examine capital flows into women's sports and women-led businesses, positioning the sector as an increasingly sophisticated investment market rather than an emerging niche.
Sophia Bush joins summit to advocate for capital deployment into women's sports
Actor and investor Sophia Bush will speak at the Summit on the case for backing women's sports and women entrepreneurs, drawing on her track record of investing in women-focused businesses and initiatives.
Panel session maps capital movement across the sports ecosystem
A featured session titled "Beyond the Game: Investing in the Future of Sports" will bring together Dr. Jan Adams, Founder and CEO of JMA Solutions and Co-Owner of DC Power FC; Ali Curtis, Executive Vice President of Major League Soccer and President of MLS NEXT Pro; and Lorine Pendleton, Founder and Managing Partner of 125 Ventures. Julie Donaldson, news anchor and reporter at WTTG FOX5 DC, will moderate. The panel will address team and league growth, technology and innovation, athlete entrepreneurship, new business models and the role of private capital in shaping the sports industry.
WBC CEO frames women athletes as investors and founders, not just competitors
"Women's sports is no longer an emerging opportunity—it is a growing and increasingly sophisticated investment market," said Gwen Young, CEO of Women Business Collaborative. She noted that women athletes are increasingly becoming investors, founders and business leaders, while entrepreneurs build companies spanning media, technology, health and consumer products tied to the sports ecosystem.
Summit structure links founders directly with capital providers
The Women's Capital Summit is designed around panels, investor conversations and matchmaking sessions that connect women founders with institutions and individuals capable of funding and scaling their businesses. Organizers describe the sports programming as an extension of the Summit's broader goal: shifting focus from representation discussions toward direct investment, ownership stakes and economic participation for women across the sports and business sectors.