Leveling the Playing Field: Women in Soccer pays tribute to Jackie Robinson’s barrier-breaking legacy by highlighting how women of color are changing the landscape of the world’s game today. Our panel of players, coaches, journalists, and executives will explore the growing presence for women of color on the US Women’s National Team and in the National Women’s Soccer League in recent years, pay equity, representation in front office and team ownership roles, and career pathways for girls and young women as players and beyond.

View selected clips from this event

Meet the Panelists:

Darian Jenkins, Broadcast analyst, former NWSL player, and member of the Black Women’s Player Collective
Between 2017 and 2023, Darian Jenkins played professionally in France and Australia and with the North Carolina Courage, OL Reign, Orlando Pride and Kansas City in the NWSL, winning an NWSL championship in 2018 with North Carolina. Jenkins also won a national championship in college with the UCLA Bruins. She is currently serving as a CBS Sports analyst on “Attacking Third,” “Morning Footy,” and “Box to Box” on the Golazo Network covering soccer globally and analyst on ION covering NWSL matches every Saturday and a color analyst for MSG local broadcast. Jenkins previously served as Gotham FC chief of staff.

Danita Johnson,  President, Business Operations, DC United
Danita Johnson is a seasoned sports and entertainment executive and member of Sports Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2023 and ESSENCE Power 40 Class of 2023. Johnson serves as the President of Business Operations for Major League Soccer’s most decorated club, D.C. United, a role she has held since January 2021. Notably, she is the first Black President of an MLS Club and only the third woman in league history to serve in this role. Prior to joining D.C. United, Johnson had 15 years of experience in the sports industry, including several roles in the WNBA, NBA, and NBA G League, specializing in revenue generation, community programs, and digital media and marketing.

Kia McNeill, Head Coach, Women’s Soccer, Brown University
Now in her eighth season as head coach, Kia McNeill leads the 4-peat undefeated Ivy League Champion women’s soccer team at Brown University (2019, 2021, 2022, 2023), where she has also been recognized twice as Ivy League Coach of the Year and East Region Coach of the Year. McNeill comes to her coaching career after a decorated college and professional playing career. McNeill was a four-year starter at Boston College, where she was the eighth all-time leading scorer, and a professional player in Sweden, Russia, and the US between 2008 and 2014.

Bekah Salwasser, Executive Director, Red Sox Foundation & Executive Vice President of Social Impact, Boston Red Sox; former professional soccer player, Boston Breakers
Bekah Salwasser has dedicated her career to serving the community through promoting and amplifying social justice initiatives. She has been involved with various nonprofits including Scholar Athletes, the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation, and the Lacrosse and Learning Center. As Executive Vice President, Social Impact for the Red Sox, Bekah continues to champion and advocate for equity and inclusion through the Foundation’s giving strategies, programming, fundraising, sponsorships, and capacity building that help build the brand and strengthen the impact of the Foundation within the New England community. Bekah brings her experience as an athlete to her work around sports and social justice. Salwasser played collegiate soccer for Brown University before playing professionally for the USL W-League Boston Renegades and the WUSA Boston Breakers.

Renee Washington, PHLY Sports host, ESPN and NWSL Analyst (Moderator)
Renee Washington is a sports reporter and analyst that works with PHLY Sports hosting daily shows on the Philadelphia Union and Phillies. She is an analyst with MSG Networks and CBS Sports covering the NWSL. She has also worked as a college reporter with ESPN as a sideline reporter and analyst. The Ewing, NJ native has covered all sports collegiately or professionally through work with the NBA, MLB, WNBA, NFL, NLL, MLS, and NWSL. In her playing career, Renee is a former three-time all-American and soccer hall of famer from La Salle University. She had an opportunity to play with Sky Blue FC (now Gotham FC) before becoming a coach at Lehigh University where she received her masters.

Tickets

$25 Adults
$20 Seniors/Youth/College Students/Visitors with disabilities
$15 Museum members (join here)

Tickets include Museum Admission from 5:00 – 6:00PM and light refreshments in addition to the panel discussion.

Special Offer from NJ/NY Gotham FC

Special offer from NJ/NY Gotham FC! Leveling The Playing Field: Women in Soccer event attendees will be eligible to redeem two complimentary tickets to your choice of Gotham FC home games in June, first come first served.

Sponsorship

Presenting Sponsor of Leveling the Playing Field: Sheila Johnson Foundation

Interested in becoming a sponsor for this event? Contact [email protected].

Leveling the Playing Field: Women in Baseball pays tribute to Jackie Robinson’s barrier-breaking legacy by highlighting how women of color are stepping up to the plate across the sport of baseball today. An all-star line-up of panelists will discuss their journeys as players, businesswomen, and sports journalists and address the barriers that still exist for women—and particularly women of color—in “America’s pastime” today. Looking ahead, they’ll discuss how to open more equitable pathways for girls and women of future generations in the dugout, press box, and front office.

Tickets are currently only available for the public panel discussion program at 6:30PM.

Select your Session

TEEN TALK, 3:30PM

AJ Andrews, Pro Softball Player & MLB Network Host

Mo’ne Davis, Aspiring Women’s Sports Owner, former Little League World Series pitcher and Hampton University softball player

Misha Hurd, Senior Manager, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Major League Baseball

Taking place after school, this session is designed for middle and high school students and will offer a chance to hear from selected panelists and ask questions. This session will be targeted to student athletes and youth interested in sports careers, but all teens welcome!

• Individual tickets for the Teen Talk are $15 per person.
• Team/Group rate also available. A flat rate of $249 includes up to 20 youth and 3 adults.
• Adult tickets are only available if accompanying youth. To keep the Teen Talk teen-centered, adults are welcome to visit the Jackie Robinson Museum during the program.

NOTE: Tickets for the Teen Talk are no longer available.

PANEL DISCUSSION, 6:30PM

AJ Andrews, Pro Softball Player & MLB Network Host

Mo’ne Davis, Aspiring Women’s Sports Owner, former Little League World Series pitcher and Hampton University softball player

Wendy Lewis, CEO and Founder, Wendy Lewis LLC, former Senior VP, Diversity and Strategic Alliances, Major League Baseball

Amber Sabathia, Agent-CAA Baseball, Co-Founder & Executive Director, PitCCh In Foundation

Moderator: Shakeia Taylor, Deputy Senior Content Editor, Sports, Chicago Tribune

This evening session welcomes industry professionals, college athletes, and fans of all ages to join us for this one-of-a-kind event on the future of women as a growing force in the game of baseball.

PRESENTING SPONSOR

Sheila C. Johnson Foundation

Interested in other opportunities to support this series? Contact [email protected].

Download the flyer to share this event with your community.

Bestselling author Jonathan Eig (Opening Day: The Story of Jackie Robinson’s First Season) joins us to discuss his newest book, KING: A Life, a monumental new biography of Martin Luther King, Jr. that draws on hundreds of interviews and newly released archival collections including FBI files.

5:30 – Author meet-and-greet
6:30 – Panel discussion
7:30 – Book signing

There are two ticketing tiers available for this event. Both include the panel discussion.

Author Meet-and-Greet + Panel Discussion ($100 per person)
Join us for a pre-event author meet-and-greet reception (5:30PM) where you will have the chance to meet author Jonathan Eig and have your book signed, then stay for the panel discussion (6:30PM). One copy of KING, A Life included with ticket price.

Panel Discussion + Book Signing ($30 per person)
Join us for the panel discussion (6:30PM) and stay for a post-event book signing (7:30PM). Option to purchase a copy of KING, A Life.

Museum members, verify your membership in the checkout to receive a 15% discount.