Innovation in Sports Leagues: A Conversation with Jessica Berman and Valerie Camillo

Some of the most consequential innovation in sports today isn’t coming from legacy institutions—it’s coming from leagues that are rethinking how sports organizations are built from the ground up. As fan expectations evolve and business models are rewritten, these leagues are setting new standards for governance, growth, and value creation across the industry.

In 2024, the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) was named No. 5 on the World’s Most Innovative Companies list, with team valuations surpassing $100 million. Meanwhile, the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) is on track to reach pay parity by 2027—an industry-defining milestone reshaping expectations across sports. Together, the NWSL and WTA are redefining how modern sports leagues are built, governed, and monetized.

Join NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman and WTA Chair Val Camilo for a conversation on building and scaling next-generation sports leagues. They’ll explore the strategic decisions, operational innovations, and business models fueling growth and what emerging enterprises can learn from these leagues as a blueprint for the future.