Today, July 7, marks National Black Women in Sports Day, a national observance created in 2023 to celebrate the achievements of Black women in sports — on and off the field.
The day was founded by Diverse Representation, a Los Angeles-based organization led by sports and entertainment attorney Jaia Thomas.
The group works to increase the hiring and visibility of Black agents, attorneys, managers and executives in sports and entertainment.
The holiday began as a social media campaign to honor Black women in sports and quickly grew into a nationally recognized observance.
Listen In With KNN, since its inception, has amplified the stories of many triumphant Black women in sports and entertainment.
Launched in 2017, the sports talk show and podcast is owned and hosted by award-winning broadcast journalist Kelsey Nicole Nelson, a Black woman making her mark in sports media.
Nelson, recently named the 2025 Young Entrepreneur of the Year by the D.C. Chamber of Commerce, has covered major sporting events both locally and nationally, building the show into a trusted voice for real conversations about sports, culture and community.
The show has featured several notable Black women in sports, including:
- Natasha Camy, NCAA Division I women’s basketball official and founder of Referee Ready, a training program for referees.
- Dr. Judi Brown Clarke, former Olympic medalist and three-time Pan American Games champion.
- Dr. Gigi Hamilton, licensed psychotherapist and co-founder of Game Changer Academy, which helps African American gamers secure NIL deals.
- ShaJuan Chance Underwood, former soccer player and general manager of Refugee Soccer’s D.C. #SheBelongs team.
- Ashley Baker, creator of Sports After Dark X, a sports fan community launched during the pandemic.
- Yolanda Jenkins, founder and CEO of Women Major League Kickball, the first woman to own a women’s kickball league.
- Dawn Harper-Nelson, Olympic gold and silver medalist and IAAF Diamond League champion.
National Black Women in Sports Day highlights the importance of representation in sports at all levels, from athletes to executives and media professionals.
Jaia Thomas, founder of Diverse Representation and the holiday itself, was also a notable guest on Listen In With KNN in 2024. During her appearance, she discussed the holiday and the work Diverse Representation is doing to increase opportunities for Black women in sports and entertainment.
She highlighted challenges around representation and stressed the importance of intentional hiring and visibility in the industry.
As the nation marks this day, Listen In With KNN continues to serve as a powerful platform amplifying Black women’s voices in sports.
Nelson was also part of last year’s in-person National Black Women in Sports Day celebration at the White House.
This week’s audio edition of Listen In With KNN will feature special guest Dr. Tabia Pope, President & CEO of Head to Speech Inc., the leading national nonprofit organization dedicated to athlete brain health.
