Title IX: WNBA owner among women athletes running businesses

SEATTLE — Ginny Gilder wasn’t well versed on what Title IX meant until she was a freshman at Yale, competing for the rowing team and taking part in one of the most famous protests surrounding the law. “And I think it feeds into the competitiveness and our fearlessness about taking challenges on and not being afraid to step in, you know, step in and play the game.” Thanks to Title IX providing more women with opportunities as a result of the growth in participation at every level — from youth sports to college, Boudreaux believes the number of female CEOs will inevitably increase and level the corporate playing field. “I think it’s important for us to give back to things that helped us pay it forward and also to be an important, socially responsible company in the community,” Boudreaux said. “As a commissioner,” McWilliams said, “I have access to a whole lot of things, a platform in a position of power that I think it’s quite humbling that I do have a place that I can bring others forward, that I can advocate in rooms that some may not ever get into, even as a Black female.” McWilliams and others have fought many battles along the way and understand there is still much progress that needs to be made. “There is a huge acknowledgement that the WNBA, and certainly the Storm, offer an authentic expression for any human or company that cares about diversity, equity inclusion,” Gilder said.