Warriors appoint Jess Smith as their WNBA team president.
Steph Curry joins Monte Poole and Dalton Johnson on “Dubs Talk” to discuss the enthusiasm surrounding the prospective WNBA club coming to the Bay Area.
The Golden State Warriors’ WNBA expansion franchise has yet to pick a name, but it does have a team president ahead of its debut season in 2025.
Jess Smith, an 18-year professional sports veteran, was named Golden State’s WNBA team president on Tuesday and will begin her job on February 14. She formerly served as the head of revenue for the NWSL’s Angel City Football Club.
According to a Warriors press statement, Smith will be in charge of all WNBA business operations and will report directly to President and Chief Operating Officer Brandon Schneider.
“Jess is a proven leader and the ideal candidate to lead our WNBA team as we embark on this exciting new journey,” Schneider said in a statement. “She brings a strategic and innovative business approach, as well as a proven track record of exceeding financial and overall objectives.” Those intangibles will help us tremendously as we strive to construct a world-class franchise that will establish strong and effective business initiatives off the court while competing for championships on it.
We’re thrilled to welcome Jess to the Golden State family.”
In early October, the WNBA announced that Golden State was given an expansion team, marking the league’s first expansion since 2008.
The team, which has yet to be named, will play its first games in 2025 at Chase Center. Its headquarters will be in the Warriors’ former downtown Oakland practice facility, which Smith now calls home in her new front-office position.
“It is an incredible opportunity to build a WNBA team with the backing of Joe Lacob and Peter Guber and the commitment from the Warriors’ Executive Team, led by Brandon Schneider,” Smith stated in an e-mail. “Authenticity and a commitment to greatness are two qualities that women’s sports fans want and deserve, and the Warriors organization has clearly proved both. That is what drew me to this role.
The team’s big initial investment in the WNBA is only a taste of what’s to come for sports fans in the Bay Area and throughout the world. I can’t wait to join this franchise and have the ability to impact and alter our local community and the women’s sports environment.”
Smith also worked as vice president of sponsorship for the San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) from 2017-20, the Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL) from 2015-16, and the Oakland Athletics (MLB) from 2008-15 in ticketing and sponsorship responsibilities, according to the Warriors.
As Golden State begins this new journey, it is evident that the Warriors are putting together a new WNBA franchise that can become another successful team in the Bay with Smith at its lead.
