Game Changers conference recognizes women in sports business - Sports Business Journal

10.01.2026Members of the Game Changers Class of 2026 celebrate in New York City on Wednesday night. Marc Bryan-Brown A packed ballroom of friends, family and colleagues celebrated this year’s class of SBJ Game Changers: Women in Sports Business with cheers, tears and hugs on Wednesday night at the Marriott Marquis in N. Y. It was the largest class of honorees to attend the awards ceremony, with 55 of the 60 class members in attendance, including seven of the 10 Game Changers from outside North America. Winning the unofficial honor of traveling the farthest was Stephanie Rudnick of Angel City FC, MKTG Sports + Entertainment and The Yellow Brick Collective, who made the trek from Sydney. And two Game Changers -- LaRhonda Burley of Spartan Ventures at Michigan State and Emily Dillinger of Good Karma Sports -- celebrated their birthdays at the event. Welcoming the guests, SBJ Publisher and Executive Editor Abe Madkour noted that Game Changers are leaders of organizations of all sizes from across the sports industry. “They’re relentless. They are change agents. I would consider them fearless, optimists, mentors. They’re definitely role models,” he said.