Lisa Borders, most recently chair of The Coca-Cola Foundation and vice present of global affairs for The Coca-Cola Company, was named president of the WNBA on Wednesday.
As vice mayor of Atlanta and president of the city council, she helped bring a WNBA franchise, the Dream, to Atlanta in 2008. Borders will replace Laurel Richie, who resigned in November after four years as president.
Borders has held numerous jobs in the public, private and non-profit sectors in Atlanta, bringing more than 25 years of experience to her now job. She has also served as president of the Grady Health Foundation and president of Cousins Properties Foundation. Borders ran for mayor of Atlanta in 2009. She eventually endorsed Kasim Reed.
“The WNBA has reached a significant milestone, and I feel privileged to be joining the league at such an exciting time,” Borders said in a statement given to the media. “I have always been a staunch supporter of this league and its tremendous athletes. I am impressed by their talent and inspired by their passion. The athleticism of the game and the sportsmanship exhibited between teams offers clear evidence of our ability to grow women’s basketball.”
NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced the Borders appointment on Wednesday. She will begin her duties on March 21.
“As a proven executive with a passion for the WNBA and the game of basketball, Lisa is the right leader at a pivotal time in the league’s history,” Silver said in a statement given to the media. “She will be responsible for spearheading our efforts to strengthen the WNBA and accelerate its growth.”
The WNBA will soon begin its 20th season on May 14 and faces challenges.
Richie said in October that 10 of the league's 12 teams secured "marquee" partnerships and that as many as five teams had reached profitability.
However, the league's average attendance of 7,318 last season was the lowest in WNBA history.
Asked in a video segment produced by ESPN how she could help the league change, Borders said that she wanted to listen to all those who are shareholders in the WNBA and come up with a shared vision for the future.
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