With the continued support of the NBA, the WNBA continues to thrive as a leading sports entity when it comes to diversity and inclusion at its highest levels.
The WNBA announced today that Christin Hedgpeth has been named the league’s Chief Operating Officer, effective immediately. She had been serving as the league’s interim COO since October 2018 and will continue to oversee WNBA strategy, business development and marketing functions.
She will report directly to WNBA Interim President Mark Tatum.
OFFICIAL: Christin Hedgpeth has been promoted to WNBA Chief Operating Officer! 👏
Read More 📰 ⬇️ https://t.co/DgDPHQzHQw
— WNBA (@WNBA) February 5, 2019
“Christy is an effective strategic leader and well-deserving of this promotion to COO,” said Tatum. “With her strong experience in sales and marketing, Christy will continue to play a key role in our efforts to build more corporate partnerships, expand our fan base and grow the WNBA business.”
Prior to joining the league in 2014, Hedgpeth held a series of leadership roles with Under Armour, Spalding and Russell Athletic, where she was responsible for business strategy, P&L management, and brand marketing initiatives.
Hedgpeth further refined her sports business skills as Vice President, Team Marketing and Business Operations (TMBO) for the NBA. In that role, she consulted with WNBA and NBA teams where she provided strategic support to WNBA teams in ticket sales, sponsorship and marketing, while also helping NBA teams drive their youth basketball and overall branding initiatives at the team level.
During her tenure in this role, WNBA team sponsorships grew nearly 30 percent.
.@WNBA Reports Double-Digit Viewership and Merchandise Sales Growth, Announces League-Wide #Sponsorship Deal #WNBA @Candace_Parker #basketball @LadyVol_Hoopshttps://t.co/TmtFMgTApx
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— JohnWallStreet (@HowieLongShort) August 6, 2018
“It has been a true privilege to collaborate with WNBA and NBA teams in TMBO,” said Hedgpeth. “I am inspired by the extraordinary women who play in the WNBA and by the deep commitment our organization and owners have to the game. It is incredibly energizing to have the opportunity to continue to evolve the WNBA brand together with our players, teams, and corporate partners.”
Hedgpeth was a starter on Stanford’s 1992 National Championship team before playing three seasons in the American Basketball League (ABL) for the Seattle Reign after she helped launch the league as Director of Player Development.
A native of Thomasville, North Carolina, Hedgpeth earned her undergraduate degree at Stanford University and her MBA from Duke University.
