The NBA is famed for being the symbol of athletic excellence. But as times go by, its definition of leadership has broadened. This could be seen with a quiet revolution, where many women are leaving their impactful mark in the NBA offices and teams as high-profile executives. It is their talent that is changing the face of the business, and the viewpoint of NBA communities, especially in terms of leadership.
Women In NBA: Female Executives Break Barriers to Take Center Stage
A decade ago, the whole scenario in the league was different. Women sitting in NBA front office roles were a rare sight. But with time, the league witnessed an upward trajectory in the number of female executives and decision-makers. This progress is continuing to get better in 2025.
A three-time WNBA champion, Swin Cash recently took helm of New Orleans Pelicans as the Vice President of Basketball Operations. This cemented her place as one of the highest-ranking women in any NBA front office.
Ever since her joining in 2019, Cash became an integral and respected architect for the organizational strategy and player development of the Pelicans. Her work also displays her experience on the court, and as a leader in the WNBA Players Association. But Swin Cash is not the only feather in the cap.
The league office also includes powerful women like Amy Brooks, who is the President of Team Marketing & Business Operations and Chief Innovation Officer for the NBA.
Along with this, there is Lara Price, who has been the Chief Operating Officer of the Philadelphia 76ers since 1996. Under her watch, the team was supervised for business growth and developing state-of-the-art facilities.
There is Gillian Zucker, who is the President of Business Operations for the Los Angeles Clippers. Since 2014, she has been in the office, steering major business initiatives and partnerships. This has helped the franchise in reshaping its brand and infrastructure.
| Executive | Team/Organization | Role |
| Swin Cash | New Orleans Pelicans | SVP, Basketball Operations |
| Amy Brooks | NBA | President, TMBO & Chief Innovation Officer |
| Lara Price | Philadelphia 76ers | Chief Operating Officer |
| Gillian Zucker | LA Clippers | President, Business Operations |
| Matina Kolokotronis | Sacramento Kings | COO |
Ongoing Challenges for the New Generation
The progress of these women in NBA office roles has ensured that the level gets a notch higher. As each season goes by, the glass ceiling also gets lifted a little higher. In July 2025, 27-year-old Katie Benzan became the youngest female general manager in NBA G League history. Before this, Benzan previously served as a pro scout and assistant general manager. The rise of Benzan highlights how the league focuses on recognizing and nurturing diverse talent pipelines.
The NBA was therefore prompted to invest in mentorship and leadership training for women. This year’s NBA Women’s Leadership Forum attracted more than 1,200 employees and guests. These were for workshops and seminars on purposeful leadership, innovation, and career development. Such events and initiatives provide an acceleration for women to be prepared for getting promoted into pro sports executive roles, from the United States to the world.
But the road is long, and there’s a lot of progress to be made ahead. Even in 2025, Women remain underrepresented at the top roles. This consists of roles such as president or general manager positions for NBA teams. While there has been a rise in the number of female assistant coaches (which has grown to a record 11 women across the NBA’s benches as of last season,) we are yet to witness a woman leading an NBA team as the head coach or being named as a full-time NBA general manager.
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