This WNBA franchise is setting a new standard (w/ Valkyries’ President Jess Smith) | Rapid Response
About Jess
- President of WNBA's Golden State Valkyries, leading the franchise's launch in 2025.
- Former Head of Revenue at Angel City FC, pioneering revenue-growth and social impact models.
- Named to 2023 Sports Business Journal 40 Under 40 and Leaders in Sport Under 40.
- Achieved 90%+ season ticket renewal at Angel City FC and broke Valkyries' ticket sales records.
- Career spans MLB, NHL, MLS, NWSL, and WNBA with expertise in building new teams and brands.
| 22:29
Ahead of the WNBA All-Star Game, Rapid Response welcomes Golden State Valkyries’ President Jess Smith. She shares how the team has quickly built a brand identity in its first year — breaking season ticket records, surpassing expectations on and off the court, and setting a template for future expansion teams. We dig into the business impact of Caitlin-mania, how sports is a reflection of wider trends in society, and critical lessons learned in a career that spans Major League Baseball, the NHL, Major League Soccer, the NWS – and now the WNBA.
Related Episode
Record ticket sales and big brand energy
Golden State Valkyries’s Jess Smith
Go to Episode
to Listen to
Golden State Valkyries’s Jess Smith