Val Ackerman Archive

Val Ackerman

Contributor, espnW.com

Val Ackerman served as the WNBA's first president for eight years, before becoming the first female president of USA Basketball in 2005. During her term with USAB, both the men's and women's U.S. teams won gold at the Beijing Olympics. A graduate of UCLA's law school, she's currently an adjunct professor at Columbia University and serves as the U.S. representative to FIBA. She and her husband have two daughters.

Commentary
Val Ackerman: Assessing the costs of women's college sports
Val Ackerman says it is time to examine whether the NCAA sports programs that have evolved over the past four decades are doing the best possible job of preparing female student-athletes for the demands of life.
Feb 15 | By Val Ackerman
Commentary
Surveying a significant year for women's sports
In 2011, the women's sports landscape welcomed new champions and new fans. The next challenge: ensuring the financial viability of women's sports enterprises.
Dec 30 | By Val Ackerman
Commentary
Two high schools show how far girls' soccer has come
Former WNBA president Val Ackerman watched her daughter's team win a league title and gives her perspective on how much has changed since she went to school.
Dec 1 | By Val Ackerman
Commentary
Kim Ng makes mark on 'sport side' of baseball
Success on the "sport side" of a major men's league is what distinguishes Kim Ng. Val Ackerman hopes Ng gets another shot to run an MLB team.
Oct 30 | By Val Ackerman
Commentary
Four keys to advancing women's pro sports leagues
In Val Ackerman's view, the women's sports community needs to undertake an honest assessment of the business realities facing women's sports ventures.
Oct 13 | By Val Ackerman
Val Ackerman: 'I'll never forget that day'
On the 10th anniversary of that grim day, former WNBA president Val Ackerman shares her memories of being in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001.
Sep 11 | By Val Ackerman
She's got the look, but is that a good thing?
The cutting-edge fashion routinely on tennis players on and off the court is missing in women's team sports. Is that a good or bad thing?
Sep 2 | By Val Ackerman
After World Cup, still a long way to go
In the wake of a thrilling showcase, former WNBA president Val Ackerman notes the many challenges women's sports continue to face.
Jul 18 | By Val Ackerman
Fifteen years of the WNBA
Val Ackerman, the league's first president, reflects on the challenging inaugural season -- and on how much women's basketball has grown since then.
Jun 21 | By Val Ackerman
Is gender a factor when it comes to leadership?
No one questions a man's ability to coach either men or women. But Val Ackerman wonders what it would take for more women to assume leadership roles when it comes to coaching men.
Apr 26 | By Val Ackerman
Learning how to play the game
Although athletic performance is essential to sports celebrity, writes Val Ackerman, other factors are needed to attract the media buzz and average-fan-on-the-street interest that drives star power and its accompanying rewards.
Feb 8 | By Val Ackerman
Val Ackerman looks at future for women and sports
The relationship between women and sports appear closer than ever, but challenges still remain. Old stereotypes and barriers are mostly gone, but differences remain in the way American males and females participate in, consume and think about sports.
Dec 6 | By Val Ackerman

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