Amanda Serrano Among 4 New Speakers Joining Sportico RISE Lineup

August 12, 2026 - 18:36

Organizers of the upcoming RISE Women's Sports conference have confirmed four new additions to their speaker lineup, headlined by unified featherweight boxing champion Amanda Serrano. The event is scheduled for September 10 in New York City and will bring together executives, athletes, and industry analysts to take a close look at the current state of women's athletics and where the sector is headed.

Joining Serrano on the stage will be Kim Stone, president of the WNBA's Golden State Valkyries, beach volleyball legend Kerri Walsh Jennings, and Jason Wright, a former NFL executive who now advises sports properties on growth strategy. Each of these voices brings a different angle to the conversation, from athlete advocacy and team operations to media rights and sponsorship trends.

The one-day gathering is designed to move beyond surface-level discussion. Panels will dig into the real numbers behind the recent surge in women's sports viewership, the challenges of building sustainable revenue models, and the role of player unions and collective bargaining in shaping the next decade. Serrano, who has been outspoken about pay equity and fight promotion, is expected to address the business side of combat sports, an area often overlooked in broader women's sports conversations.

Walsh Jennings, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, will likely focus on the transition from athlete to entrepreneur, while Stone will offer insight into launching a new WNBA franchise from the ground up. Wright, who spent years in the NFL front office, brings a unique crossover perspective on how traditional leagues can learn from the rapid growth of women's properties.

Tickets for the event remain available, and organizers say a full agenda will be released in the coming weeks.