LA Sparks will appoint Vanessa Shay as team president on Monday when she begins her role of overseeing all of WNBA’s business operations.

Shay previously served as NWSL San Diego Wave FC’s chief revenue officer, guiding the new franchise through its expansion efforts since the team’s founding in 2021. In this role, she oversaw all revenue for the team, including the signing of team equipment sponsors and a medical partner, and helped the team record the first set of consecutive sales.

Prior to joining Wave FC, Shay spent 13 years as vice president of global partnerships at Anschutz Entertainment Group, with whom she oversaw the launch of LA Live. She was also named the winner of the International Sports Leaders Under 40 Award 2018 and completed the Women in Sports Leadership program at the Dartmouth School of Business Yes.

“In partnership with Sparks owner and general manager / head coach Derek Fisher, I look forward to an immediate impact on the franchise for fans, partners and our players,” Shay said in a statement. “The Sparks is one of the major franchises in women’s sports, and I’m committed to innovating our business operations and building on the organization’s legacy in the championship.”