The Women's Sports Alliance (WSA) is proud to introduce our Athlete Guiding Group (AGG), a powerful collective of elite female athletes from across the globe, each bringing a wealth of experience, expertise, and passion for driving change for female athletes. The purpose of the AGG is simple: to ensure that the voices of female athletes are at the heart of everything we do. From shaping our strategies to developing new initiatives, this group will play a pivotal role in helping us reach our mission of seeing at least 10 female athletes on the list of the world’s highest-paid athletes by 2035.
MEET THE ATHLETES LEADING THE CHARGE
Our AGG is made up of some of the world’s most accomplished female athletes, all of whom are committed to helping drive commercial opportunities, sponsorship support, and personal brand growth for female athletes.
YEMI MARY JOHN
TEAM GB TRACK AND FIELD, OLYMPIC BRONZE MEDALLIST
A rising star in British Athletics, Yemi Mary John is a world-class sprinter, currently living in LA, who won a bronze medal for Team GB at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and became the U20 World Champion in 2022. Currently competing in the NCAA Division 1 system at USC, she understands the complexities of balancing elite sport with commercial opportunities.
“I’m excited to create a safe space for female athletes and be able to drive the commercial growth of women's sports. I want to inspire more women to thrive in sport, and also be able to give those already in sport the resources they need to grow themselves, their brand, and do better in their sport.
KATRINA GORRY
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL TEAM FOOTBALL PLAYER & OLYMPIAN
A competitor at the Rio and Paris Olympic Games, Katrina Gorry is an Australian football player currently playing for West Ham United in the Women’s Super League. As a mother of two, she knows firsthand the challenges of balancing family life with a professional sports career.
"Women’s sport is changing fast, but there’s still a long way to go. Football in Australia has become a lot bigger since the World Cup and I want to help female athletes understand their value, secure the sponsorships they deserve, and grow the game globally. I want to see female athletes empowering other women."
GRONYA SOMERVILLE
AUSTRALIAN BADMINTON PLAYER & OLYMPIAN
An Olympian from Tokyo 2020, Gronya is a key figure in the world of badminton, particularly within the Asian sports market. She brings a unique perspective on commercial opportunities in niche sports.
“Through this group I want to provide a bit of insight from more of a niche sport perspective and also from an Asian market perspective. I’m hoping to help make the pathway easier for the next group of female athletes coming through and to give more opportunities to female athletes who are seeking brand partnerships. I hope to use my experience to help more female athletes break into new markets and secure better deals."
GRETEL TIPPETT
AUSTRALIAN NETBALL PLAYER AND LIZ ELLIS AWARD WINNER
A Commonwealth Games gold medallist and former Liz Ellis Award winner, Gretel has played over 100 games for the Queensland Firebirds and more than 50 matches for the Australian Diamonds. She is also a mother of two and a strong advocate for women balancing sport and family life. Gretel was once a basketball player before transitioning to become one of netball’s GOATs.
"It’s so important for female athletes to understand their worth and seize commercial opportunities. I’m passionate about helping the next generation of athletes navigate their careers both on and off the court. The WSA’s support is so needed for female athletes!"
JILL MOFFATT
CANADIAN ROWER, OLYMPIAN
A two-time Olympian in rowing (Tokyo & Paris), Jill is also a PhD researcher focusing on media representation of elite athlete mothers. She co-founded a nonprofit supporting elite athlete mothers in Canada, providing financial grants and advocacy.
"As a rower, I know how tough it is to secure sponsorships in non-mainstream sports. I want to make sure female athletes, no matter their sport, have the tools to grow commercially and make an impact, even if their major moment only comes along once every 4 years."
MIA BHUTA
USA WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM FOOTBALL PLAYER & HISTORY MAKER
Mia made history as the first Indian-American to represent the USA at a FIFA tournament, captaining the U.S. at the U17 Women’s World Cup in 2022. Currently playing college soccer for Stanford Cardinal, she is a trailblazer for young female footballers.
"I want to inspire and empower my generation of female athletes. Being part of this group allows me to help drive meaningful change in women’s sport."
JENNY KRONISH
USA EAGLES RUGBY UNION PLAYER
A USA Rugby international and player for Harlequins in the Premier 15s, Jenny has a remarkable journey from multi-sport athlete to World Cup Rugby Player.
"I picked up rugby later in life, but the challenges of female athletes in sponsorship and branding remain the same. I’m excited to bring my experience to this group and push for real change."
FIRST ATHLETE GUIDING GROUP MEETING: KEY TAKEAWAYS
Our first AGG meeting, led by Donna Furlong Stelling (WSA Advisory Board Member and Chair of the Athlete Guiding Group) and Jordan Guard (WSA Founder & MD) focused on discussing some of the biggest challenges female athletes face today, including:
Content creation and personal branding
Securing sponsorships and understanding self-value
The need for better media training and agent support
This conversation laid the groundwork for future discussions where the AGG will help co-design solutions to support female athletes worldwide.
OUR MISSION
At the Women's Sports Alliance, we are pioneering the commercial growth of female athletes. Our goal is to ensure that by 2035, at least 10 female athletes break into the list of the world’s top 100 highest-paid athletes. We equip female athletes with the tools they need to build their personal brands, secure sponsorships, and maximise their commercial potential.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT
We host, and are building a global network of 1,000+ elite female athletes committed to driving the commercial value of female athletes, globally. If you’re an elite female athlete looking to take control of your personal brand and commercial opportunities, join our Female Athlete Collective today