Women's Capital Summit Announces Women in Sports Programming Focused on Investment, Ownership and Entrepreneurship

Sophia Bush to spotlight the growing opportunity to invest in women's sports and women entrepreneurs

NEW YORK, Sept. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Women's Capital Summit will bring together leading voices from sports, investing, business and media for a timely conversation on the rapidly expanding economic opportunity surrounding women's sports and women entrepreneurs.

As investment in women's sports continues to accelerate, the Summit will examine what comes next: how investors, leagues, founders and business leaders can build on that momentum to create lasting value, expand ownership opportunities and ensure women entrepreneurs benefit from the growth of the sports economy.

Actor, activist, entrepreneur and investor Sophia Bush will participate in the Summit to speak about the importance of investing in women's sports and backing women entrepreneurs. Bush has been an outspoken advocate for women's leadership and economic opportunity and has invested in businesses and initiatives advancing women.

A featured session, "Beyond the Game: Investing in the Future of Sports," will explore where capital is moving across the sports ecosystem and the opportunities emerging for investors, entrepreneurs and industry leaders.

The panel will feature:

• Dr. Jan Adams, Founder and CEO, JMA Solutions & Co-Owner, DC Power FC
• Ali Curtis, Executive Vice President, Major League Soccer & President, MLS NEXT Pro
• Lorine Pendleton, Founder & Managing Partner, 125 Ventures
• Moderator: Julie Donaldson, news anchor and reporter, WTTG FOX5 DC

The discussion will examine the expanding sports investment landscape, including team and league growth, technology and innovation, athlete entrepreneurship, new business models and the role of private capital in shaping the future of the industry.

"Women's sports is no longer an emerging opportunity—it is a growing and increasingly sophisticated investment market," said Gwen Young, CEO of Women Business Collaborative. "The opportunity extends well beyond teams and leagues. Women athletes are becoming investors, founders and business leaders, while entrepreneurs are building companies across media, technology, health, consumer products and the broader sports ecosystem. The Women's Capital Summit is designed to bring those entrepreneurs together with the capital and relationships needed to grow."

The Women's Capital Summit brings together investors, founders, corporate leaders and ecosystem partners with a focus on moving capital to women entrepreneurs. Through panels, investor conversations, matchmaking and relationship-building, the Summit creates opportunities for women founders to connect directly with the people and institutions capable of funding and scaling their businesses.

The sports programming reflects the Summit's broader mission: moving beyond conversations about representation toward meaningful investment, ownership and economic participation.

About the Women's Capital Summit

The Women's Capital Summit convenes women entrepreneurs, investors, corporate leaders and ecosystem partners to accelerate the flow of capital to women-founded businesses. The Summit focuses on creating actionable connections between founders and capital providers while highlighting emerging investment opportunities across industries.

About Women Business Collaborative

Women Business Collaborative is an alliance of organizations and leaders working together to accelerate the advancement of women in business. Through collaboration, research, convenings and strategic initiatives, WBC works to advance women's leadership, entrepreneurship and economic opportunity.

SOURCE Women Business Collaborative