Clara Wu Tsai
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Clara Wu Tsai
Breaking Barriers Through Bold Investment
Women athletes have always pushed boundaries, challenged expectations and inspired generations to dream bigger. Yet even during a period of unprecedented growth in women’s sports, barriers remain. Clara Wu Tsai is among the leaders determined to change that.
As Governor and owner of the New York Liberty and Brooklyn Nets and Vice Chair of Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment, Wu Tsai has helped establish a new standard for what intentional investment in women’s sports can achieve.
Her leadership has centered not only on celebrating women athletes, but also on ensuring they have the environments, resources and support necessary to perform at their best. From helping create one of the WNBA’s premier training environments to prioritizing the needs of elite athletes, she has demonstrated that investing in women is an investment in excellence.
That commitment has been translated into historic results. Just five years after Wu Tsai acquired the New York Liberty, the franchise captured its first WNBA championship in 2024, bringing a 28-year pursuit to a triumphant close. The milestone offered a powerful example of what becomes possible when women athletes are met with ambitious belief, meaningful resources and sustained support.
But Wu Tsai understands that investing in women athletes does not end when the final buzzer sounds.
Despite decades of progress, women remain significantly underrepresented in sports science research. Today, only six percent of sports science studies focus exclusively on women athletes, leaving gaps in the knowledge used to inform training, performance, recovery and long-term well-being.
Recognizing an opportunity to help advance this critical work, Wu Tsai established the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance. Bringing together scientists and clinicians across six universities, the Alliance is accelerating research, expanding understanding and helping ensure women athletes benefit from evidence-based insights designed with their unique experiences and physiology in mind.
Across professional sports and scientific research, Wu Tsai has consistently paired vision with action. Her leadership reflects a simple but powerful belief: progress is measured not only by the barriers we break, but by our willingness to confront the barriers that remain.
For her bold leadership and unwavering commitment to advancing women in sport, the Women’s Sports Foundation proudly honors Clara Wu Tsai with the Billie Jean King Leadership Award.