Boardroom goes inside a conversation with Bay Area leaders from Bay FC/World Sevens Football, Golden State Valkyries, Lyft, GingerBread Capital, and J.P. Morgan to explore how to turn momentum into long-term impact.
As the women’s basketball season begins, JPMorganChase hosted an exclusive dinner to amplify the ongoing growth in women’s sports and spotlight continued opportunities for investment.
The invite-only gathering took place at Above the Rim at Chase Center on May 15 and brought together an influential group of Bay Area executives, investors, and brand leaders, including R&B singer-songwriter Goapele, celebrity stylist and designer Brittany Hampton, sports journalist Sarah Spain, Playa Society CEO Esther Wallace, All Raise Director of Community Christie Lennox, Recast Capital Managing Partner Courtney McCrea, Cowboy Ventures Partner Caroline Duffy, and many more. Everyone gathered for a powerful panel discussion focused on accelerating investment in women, not only on the court, but across business and culture.
Moderated by Lucy Wang, Managing Director of Technology Investment Banking at J.P. Morgan, the panel featured insights from Jess Smith, President of the Golden State Valkyries; Aly Wagner, Co-Founder and Co-Chair of Bay FC and Chief of Strategy, World Sevens Football; Jessica Bryndza, Vice President of Brand and Creative at Lyft; and Katherine Rice, Partner at GingerBread Capital. The conversation explored how the investment landscape for women in sports and business has evolved, particularly in the Bay Area, a region known for pushing innovation and equity forward. Panelists reflected on the challenges they’ve faced in building the ventures they’ve been a part of from the ground up and the actions they believe are essential to sustaining this upward trajectory.
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Smith, gearing up for her first season with the Valkyries, reflected on the weight of the moment and the pressure of building a franchise that many expect to succeed from day one. For that to happen, investment has to be at the center of ensuring the team isn’t just competitive, but sustainable, scalable, and culturally resonant for years to come.
“You have to build with a purpose,” Smith said. “Mission and capital must coexist. That’s how we attract deeper investment and ensure measurable returns.”
Rice, whose firm has backed over 1,000 women-led businesses through direct investments and venture funds, reinforced that momentum alone isn’t enough — measurable impact must follow. She talked about how investing in women isn’t just a philanthropy; it’s a smart business move with long-term upside.
“This isn’t about checking a box,” she said. “It’s about getting returns, and we see it as an opportunity.”
Wagner, who transitioned from Olympic gold medalist to co-founding a professional women’s soccer franchise, shared that her greatest asset wasn’t just discipline — it was resilience. She spoke about how transitioning from an athlete to an executive has prepared her to build Bay FC from the ground up, and how resilience is a competitive advantage.
“You don’t realize when you’re going through those moments, you’re just building up your resilience,” she said about her athletic experience. “It’s not going to be perfect. You’re just going to have to get up and keep tracking.”
Bryndza emphasized the importance of brand alignment and cultural understanding when investing in the space.
“For us, when we go out and make an investment, it’s to be a cultural ally,” she said. “Fans and players don’t exist in silos — they’re living full lives, and we want to play a part in those lives as well.”
The panel also tackled what comes next: How can brands, investors, and institutions partner more effectively across women’s sports? What systems must be built today to support tomorrow’s women athletes, entrepreneurs, and leaders?
The answers pointed to a blend of creativity, measurement, and long-term vision. From expanding youth pipelines to designing lifestyle-focused fan experiences, the consensus was clear: real progress happens when equity is embedded at every level of decision-making.
While the panel touched on the excitement around the season tip-off, the larger takeaway was this: Investing in women, both in business and sports, isn’t just a cultural movement. It’s a business imperative.
By facilitating these conversations, Chase continues to spotlight the people and ideas driving women’s sports forward. And as Bay Area leaders work together to turn momentum into legacy, one thing is certain: the future of women’s sports is not only bright — it’s investable.
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