Rising 50 highlights powerful LGBTQ up-and-comers and veterans in sports on Power 100

The Outsports Power 100 features out LGBTQ people across American sports who have power and influence in 2025. We’re excited to elevate the faces and voices of these amazing people in sports.

This year, we are splitting the Power 100 into a Top 50 and a Rising 50, bringing even more new names to the public conversation about LGBTQ inclusion in sports.

The Rising 50 honorees are people never before highlighted on our Power 100.

It’s a great opportunity to highlight people who are young up-and-comers, as well as some people who have been incredible contributors to their teams, leagues or publications but never quite got the recognition they have deserved.

In the past, to be named to the Power 100, people had to be vice-presidents, head coaches, star athletes or some other top role in sports. This year we elevate the voices and faces of people across levels of sports, all of whom have power and influence in their own way.

Outsports is proud to present these honorees on our Power 100 Rising 50.

Sarah Axelson

Vice President, Advocacy, Women’s Sports Foundation

A longtime champion of women’s sports and the inclusion of the LGBTQ community in sports, Sarah Axelson has been working with the Women’s Sports Foundation for 17 years. She has some athletic experience herself, playing softball for the University of Mary Washington. A fierce Title IX advocate, Axelson has been engaged in public and private conversations about the policy at the highest levels. Throughout the years, Axelson has worked closely with other LGBTQ athletes and advocates to create paths of inclusion for everyone across the community.

Tom Bacsik

Senior Director, Hotels & Hospitality, NHL

As part of the Hotels and Hospitality team at the NHL, Tom Bacsik and his team oversee all hotel bids, contracts and negotiations, premium hospitality, back-of-house catering needs and event management for NHL signature events around the world, including the Winter Classic, Stanley Cup Final, Stadium Series, All-Star Weekend, and Global Series games. As part of the Events department, he and his team host large-scale concerts, parties and receptions for NHL partners, media and staff.

David Baggs

VP, Season Ticket & Special Event Sales, Boston Red Sox

David Baggs has been working with Major League Baseball teams for two decades, including stints with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tampa Bay Rays and now the Boston Red Sox. Now Vice President, Season Ticket & Special Event Sales for the Boston Red Sox, Baggs has earned promotion after promotion over his 12 years with the team. David Baggs has been out as a gay man in the Red Sox front office for almost a decade, inspired to come out by the late Billy Bean. He’s since been a powerful force for inclusion with the team and beyond.

Ariadne Bonano

Senior Manager, Authentication and Memorabilia, MLB

Ariadne Bonano is a longtime staple at Major League Baseball, working for the league for almost 20 years. For the last five years she’s been part of the team that authenticates items and memorabilia for the league. In 2015, she was part of a panel discussion during which she talked about her coming-out process, along with announcing the birth of her child with her partner, and the support she received from people across MLB.

Zoe Boyd

Player, Boston Fleet / Host, No Straight Answers Podcast

Zoe Boyd isn’t just a player in the PWHL, she’s also becoming one of its biggest voices. Much like Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman have done with StudBudz for the WNBA, Boyd has launched a podcast that features some of the stars of the league, including recently fellow Power 100 honoree Carly Jackson. Originally picked by Ottawa with the 53rd overall in the first PWHL Draft in 2023, she is now playing with the Boston Fleet.

Joey Colby-Begovich

VP, Matchday Operations and Guest Experience, Chicago Fire

In 2023, Colby-Begovich was named vice president, matchday operations and guest experience for the Chicago Fire of the MLS. His 20 years in the business side of sports included a similar stint with the NFL’s Washington Commanders. Colby-Begovich is with the Fire at a time of growth, with a new stadium for the team set to open in Chicago in 2028. He is an out man and married with children.

Louie Conn & Blaize Shiek

Cheerleaders, Minnesota Vikings

There have been male cheerleaders in the NFL for a long time, but none have drawn the attention that Minnesota Vikings cheerleaders Louie Conn and Blaize Shiek have. The two gay men were dancing and cheering on the Vikings in the preseason when some homophobes saw Shiek and freaked out. That generated a national conversation about the role of gender in sports, with people like former NFL wide receiver Tory Smith coming to their defense. The two guys have kept smiling through it all, bringing powerful attention to men in cheerleading, where they have found a home for decades. Conn and Shiek are two of the 71 male cheerleaders in the NFL this season.

Mad Dog Connelly

Pro Wrestler

Mad Dog Connelly has personified chaos and pro wrestling’s key tenet of suspension of disbelief better than most for several years. The independent star and “King of the Dog Collar” brings a unique intensity to his matches, producing wild brawls that forced the wider pro wrestling world to take notice. A celebrated name in top indie promotions across the U.S., Connelly drew rave reviews for his matches at the AEW/Ring of Honor/ ACTION Wrestling co-produced “DEAN~!!!” events in 2025, even making pro wrestling legend Bryan Danielson proclaim his desire to step into the ring with him.

Elizabeth Cove

Manager, Global Event and Business Strategy, NFL

Elizabeth Cove has been with the NFL since 2021 and in January was named manager of global event and business strategy, a key position as the league seeks to expand its imprint overseas. She began her career at the NFL as a management trainee after graduating from Wake Forest School of Business after attending college overseas in Spain.

Trey Cunningham

Hurdler, Team USA

Trey Cunningham is a star hurdler and model dubbed “track’s new lover boy” after his success this season. This all came less than a year after he came out as gay. “It was for me, just to be 100% authentic, transparent, and not holding back any part of me,” he said. “My coach was really big on this, like, ‘You have to be totally confident in yourself and whatever that means to you on that track.’” With his sights set on the 2028 L.A. Olympics, Cunningham is one to watch.

Meghan Duggan

Director, Player Development, New Jersey Devils

Meghan Duggan has been the director of player development for the New Jersey Devils for more than four years and is believed to be the first out gay person hired in such a role anywhere in the league. Duggan’s resume as a hockey player is impressive: Over a 14-year career with Team USA, she competed in three Olympic Games, won three medals, including one gold. Additionally, she won seven world championship gold medals. She is married to Canadian women’s hockey player Gillian Apps and the couple have three children.

Mandi Duhamel

Senior Director, Business Insights & Industry Growth, NHL

Mandi Duhamel is dedicated to growing hockey’s reach and impact. At the NHL, she leads efforts to invest in new initiatives, pilot creative programs, and expand access to the game — making it more affordable and welcoming for families and fans. Her work strengthens the connection between NHL clubs and their communities, highlighting the many pathways to becoming a fan. Whether through playing, spectating or supporting, she champions experiences that bring people closer to the sport. Prior to joining the NHL, Mandi built her career at Hockey Canada and also competed and coached at an elite level in women’s hockey.

John Focht

Senior Director, Baseball Systems Platform, Los Angeles Dodgers

After graduating from MIT and working for Amazon, John Focht was hired by the Dodgers in 2015 to update their Research and Development Department. Over the next decade, Focht helped construct a software infrastructure to support all aspects of Baseball Operations and was part of a front office that built two World Series winners. He is also a four-time “Jeopardy!” champion.

Katie Foglia

Vice President, Marketing & Brand Strategy, Columbus Crew

As Vice President of Marketing & Brand Strategy for the Columbus Crew, Katie Foglia has a key role in determining the public face of the MLS club. Foglia leads the team responsible for the overarching brand strategy and identity development of the club — one in a race for a coveted MLS Cup playoff spot. Her roots in Ohio run deep, having attended Ohio University and contributed as a freelancer to the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets.

MiLaysia Fulwiley

Player, LSU Tigers Women’s Basketball

MiLaysia Fulwiley could be one of the most exciting players in women’s college basketball. Playing two seasons for Dawn Staley at South Carolina, she’s averaged almost 12 points per game coming off the bench. Now at LSU under the leadership of Kim Mulkey, she will be a major player to watch this season, with all the talent in the world but prone to mistakes. Fulwiley has been very public about her relationship with fellow superstar athlete JaMeesia Ford.

Nic Gauvin

Hockey official, NCAA conferences

Iin 2018, Nic Gauvin moved from has home in Canada to the United States, looking to pursue a hockey officiating career with the NCAA. Gauvin has done just that. The out gay hockey official is now a linesman for NCAA Division I conferences ECAC and Atlantic Hockey America, as well as a referee in Division III men’s hockey, as well as women’s hockey for Hockey East. He’s also made his venture into professional hockey as a linesman for the SPHL (formerly the Southern Professional Hockey League). Gauvin is also helping formulate up-and-comers in the vocation as a grassroots instructor with USA Hockey.

Robert Goman

Chairman of the Board, Sports Equality Foundation

Robert Goman has been a powerful force in the LGBTQ sports movement for over a decade. While an executive at Nike, he was pivotal in developing the BeTrue brand, as well as bringing the LGBTQ Sports Summit to Nike every year. He utilized the resources from BeTrue to help fund LGBTQ-inclusion initiatives for years. Now as President of the Board at the Sports Equality Foundation, he has helped resurrect the LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame and drive inclusion efforts at various events, including the NCAA Men’s Final Four.

Sarah Gregorius

Senior Director, Sporting, NWSL

Sarah Gregorius is NWSL’s Senior Director of Sporting, overseeing the advancement of player relations and development. She is also tasked with optimizing performance standards and centralizing best practices and minimum standards. Gregorius joined the NWSL in 2024 following five years at FIFPro, where she most recently served as its director of global policy and strategic relations for women’s football. As a former member of New Zealand’s National Team, Gregorius notched 100 caps and scored 34 goals during her professional playing career, while appearing in two Olympics.

Rashauna Hamilton

Vice President, Fan Growth & Community, Washington Spirit

After six years with the Miami Dolphins as director of community relations and youth programs, Rashauna Hamilton in 2024 became the vice president of fan growth and community for the Washington Spirt as the NWSL team seeks to capitalize on the growth of women’s soccer in the U.S. Hamilton talked about the acceptance she got in Miami after admitting how it “was nerve wrecking to present my authentic self as a Black, female lesbian in an interview before I had even gotten the job.”

Tim Hammond

Senior Director, Global Fan Marketing, NBA

Tim Hammond has taken his marketing skills around the entertainment world. Just 10 years ago he was working at Paramount, building out major promotions for the film and TV company. Then he spent a couple of years at ASCAP, a music licensing company that protects artists. Now he’s working on global fan marketing at the NBA — which relies in part on his experiences in film, TV and music.

Joanna Harper

Researcher, Oregon Health & Science University

Joanna Harper has been dedicated to learning about the effects of transition on trans athletes for years. A trans cyclist herself, Harper has elevated the importance of medical- and fact-based conversations around trans-inclusion policies in sports. Over the summer, Harper was the lead voice for a research paper exploring “Longitudinal performance changes in transgender women athletes pre and post gender affirming hormone therapy.” She’s been tapped by media outlets ranging from Fox News to ESPN to talk about the issue.

AB Hernandez

Athlete, High School Track and Volleyball

AB Hernandez has generated lots of headlines this year. The trans athlete had a hugely successful girls spring track and field season, winning various league championships and two state championships. Her jumping success drew national attention, with some praise and also criticism for her participation as a trans athlete, even drawing a policy change in California for trans athletes. She is now competing on the girls volleyball team and again smiling through the controversy.

Sandra Herrera

Staff Writer, CBS Sports

Sandra Herrera has been a crucial piece to CBS Sports’ coverage of women’s soccer since the network first acquired NWSL rights in 2020. She is a founding host of the “Attacking Third” podcast and a key contributor as a reporter, analyst and personality across social, streaming and web platforms. Herrera leads CBS’  coverage of the NWSL, U.S. Women’s National Team, FIFA Women’s World Cup and top global competitions, including the Women’s Super League. Her role continues to grow, as she will lead written editorial coverage of the new property for CBSSports.com, the CBS Sports app and the CBS Sports Golazo Starting XI newsletter.

Courtney Williams & Natisha Hiedeman

Streamers, StudBudz / Players, Minnesota Lynx

The StudBudz duo of Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman has exploded onto the podcast scene. They have what might be the premier WNBA podcast, featuring two out gay players. Both Williams and Hiedeman play for the Minnesota Lynx. Their StudBudz podcast wasn’t hurt by the fact that the Lynx soared to a great regular season record and the No. 1 seed in the WNBA Playoffs. They didn’t win it all, but Studbudz has certainly soared.

Carly Jackson

Player, PWHL Seattle

When it comes to nonbinary athletes, Carly Jackson is a star. Jackson has ensured their LGBTQ and nonbinary identities are front and center as they have taken center stage for the PWHL, showing up for their league debut in a Pride jumpsuit. Now with the expansion PWHL Seattle, they’re ready to wave the Pride flag proudly as the league moves into the Pacific Northwest.

Christina Jefferson

Senior Director, Inclusion and Culture, San Francisco 49ers

Christina Jefferson is the senior director of inclusion and culture with the San Francisco 49ers. A profile on a Jewish news website headlined its story about her hiring as: “49ers draft Jew of color to tackle diversity.” The story contrasted Jefferson’s self-definition as an “art kid” with her passion for roller derby. “As a Black, lesbian Jew (with a bunch of tattoos), Jefferson described herself with a chuckle as a ‘unicorn’ in the world of corporate America,” quoting her as saying: “As I moved up in my career, I noticed I was often the only person who looked like me. It made me kind of stand out.”

Sally Jenkins

Staff Writer, The Atlantic

Sally Jenkins is a longtime voice in sports media. Currently a staff writer at The Atlantic, she has previously written for The Washington Post and Sports Illustrated. An author of 12 books, she has had a powerful role in the national conversations around former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno and cycling legend Lance Armstrong, among many others. A graduate from Stanford, she is a member of the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame.

Megan Kahn

Vice President, Women’s Basketball, Big Ten

In 2021, Kahn took on a groundbreaking role as the Big Ten Conference’s Vice President of Women’s Basketball. This historic position marked a new chapter for women’s sports within one of the nation’s most prestigious athletic conferences. In her role, Kahn is responsible for overseeing the daily operations, scheduling, and brand visibility of Big Ten women’s basketball, working to strengthen the conference’s media partnerships and grow its national presence. Her leadership has already yielded remarkable results.

Vincent Kearney

NBA Global Partnerships / NBA Pride

Vincent Kearney has worked in the legal department at the NBA for nearly three decades. Starting in 1997 — when Bill Clinton was just starting his second term — he’s been a part of the NBA legal team ever since. He’s also taken a role with NBA Pride, the league’s LGBTQ employee group.

Roman King

Creative Director, MLS

Roman King has worked with two major pro sports leagues as Creative Director. Now with Major League Soccer, he was previously in that role with the WNBA. On his own website, King says he’s “all about telling stories through visual media, building brands, ensuring marketing and creative teams click, and staying on the pulse of culture.”

Ted Koehler

Deputy General Counsel, PGA of America

Ted Koehler is Deputy General Counsel at the PGA of America, where he helps oversee legal matters regarding the PGA’s championships, partnerships, properties, technology, and governance. He previously worked as an in-house attorney for the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and as an associate at two international law firms, and he clerked for two federal judges. A Wisconsin native and graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Michigan Law School, Ted and his partner, Seth, live in Dallas.  

Janella Lacson

Senior Producer, Las Vegas Raiders

Few pro sports teams in all of America elicit the visceral reaction of the Raiders, now in Las Vegas. Behind the silver and black are people like Janella Lacson. With the team for more than three years, Lacson has been a big part of the storytelling of one of the most-storied franchises in the NFL. Coming out of NYU a decade ago, Lacson has had stints with a couple of companies in the Philippines, as well as the local Las Vegas Fox affiliate.

Meg Linehan

Women’s Sports Lead Writer, The Athletic

Meg Linehan is the Women’s Sports Lead at The Athletic, covering U.S. women’s soccer, including the NWSL and USWNT. She hosts the “Full Time” podcast, served as the first full-time women’s soccer reporter at a major outlet, and wrote “Secrets of Success,” a book on Megan Rapinoe’s leadership.

Brock McGillis

Advocate, LGBTQ Inclusion in Sports, Hockey

Brock McGillis is a former pro ice hockey player who has become an advocate for LGBTQ inclusion in a sport where there have been zero out NHL players in history. In 2023, his tour of 100 minor league hockey teams in 100 days earned McGillis lots of attention, and even awards. For his advocacy, Hockey News selected him as one of its 100 Most Influential People in Hockey in 2022, 2023 and 2024. McGillis is Canadian, but he is included on our list because of hockey’s large footprint in the U.S.

Merrick McHenry

Player, Team USA Volleyball

A member of the U.S. men’s indoor volleyball team, Merrick McHenry was a star at UCLA, leading the Bruins to consecutive NCAA titles. Along with runner Nico Young, McHenry was named co-winner in 2024 of Outsports Male Athlete of the Year. McHenry is now playing professionally overseas and with the U.S. National Team in international competitions and is talented enough to possibly be a future U.S. Olympian.

Todd Monsey

Head Girls Basketball Coach, Highland Park High School

In 2025, USA Basketball picked Todd Monsey as head coach of the 2025 USA Basketball 3×3 Women’s National Team. Monsey brings 20 years of coaching experience to his new role in the fast-paced offshoot that is 3×3 basketball. On social media, Monsey celebrates his marriage to his husband (they have a daughter). “Never could I have imagined such love,” he said.

Andrew Moss

Director, Partner Solutions & Insights, MLS

Andrew Moss has been building a blossoming career in sports for several years, interning with sports management company Wasserman and landing a stint with CSM Sport & Entertainment. Now he serves as Director of Partner Solutions and Innovations at Major League Soccer. A Master’s graduate of Columbia University’s Sports Management program, Moss now a teaching associate for sports marketing in that very program, educating future generations of people entering the sports world.

Christina Munger-Rivera

Deputy Athletics Director, Chief Administrative Officer, SWA, UCLA

Christina Munger-Rivera is the Deputy Athletics Director/Chief Administrative Officer/Senior Woman Administrator for the UCLA Bruins. At UCLA, Munger-Rivera found the courage to come out, and has since helped build LGBTQ inclusion at UCLA, including hosting the 2019 Outsports Pride event. Earlier this year, Munger-Rivera was named to the NCAA Division I Sports Oversight Committee, where, according to UCLA Athletics, “she will help shape future rules and regulations for college athletics.”

Em Nees

Senior Manager, Live Events and Booking, Jacksonville Jaguars

Em Nees brings a background in music to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Yes, you read that right. The Carnegie Mellon grad has a Masters in entertainment management with a focus on music. Nees took that degree to ICM and Universal Music, among others, before starting with the Jaguars over four years ago. In that time, Nees has worked for the team on live events and booking, rising quickly to senior manager.

Yared Nuguse

Distance Runner, Team USA

Yared Nuguse had a banner year in 2024. After finishing with a silver medal in the 1500-meter run at the World Championships last year, he followed that up with a bronze at the Paris Olympics. He holds multiple North American records, and he was even the world record holder in the 1,500 for a few days this year. So when he came out publicly in April, he was one of the most-decorated male runners to come out as gay.

Ari Carlos Peña

Director, Innovation & Growth Strategy, NHL

Ari Carlos Peña’s role is to identify, evaluate, and implement new technologies that support the NHL’s global business growth. As part of the Innovation and Growth Strategy team, his work is focused on growing the NHL fanbase and increasing fan engagement. He has helped develop a market growth strategy for the NHL’s international goals, evaluating how wearable technology is used in the game today, and policies for EDGE advanced stats. Additionally, he is the lead for the NHL’s Pride Employee Resource Group. Previously, Peña was with WWE, Audible, and NBC Sports.

Marie-Philip Poulin

Player & Captain, Montreal Victoire

An Olympic legend for Canada, Marie-Philip Poulin has won three Olympic ice hockey gold medals as well as four World Championships. Poulin has been a player development consultant for the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens. In 2022 she was named the top athlete in all of Canada. As captain of Montreal Victoire, she is now one of the highest-profile players in the PWHL.

Alfred Reft

Head Women’s Volleyball Coach, UCLA

Alfred “Alfee” Reft is entering his third season as head coach of the UCLA women’s volleyball team, making him one of the most high-profile out gay coaches in college sports. Reft is proud of his husband, Ryan, and is open about his personal life, something straight coaches have long taken for granted. Reft is emblematic of the freedom gay men feel in volleyball. On Alabama’s women’s team, assistants Nathan Matthews and Jake Barreau are gay. In addition, Coleman Lee has had great success leading Central Methodist University in Missouri as an out and proud man, while Anders Nelson restarted the women’s program at Vanderbilt after 11 seasons as an assistant at Kentucky that included a national title. At Texas State, Sean Huiet is an out gay man who has talked about raising an adopted Black son, while Andrew Brown has had great success leading New York University.

Vickie Rich

Vice President, Operations, NWSL

Vickie Rich is the Vice President of Operations for the National Women’s Soccer League, where she oversees league-wide operations, competition logistics, and event execution for one of the fastest-growing professional sports leagues in the world. Bringing nearly a decade of hands-on experience advancing the league’s operational excellence and competitive standards, Rich has been instrumental in shaping all event execution, competition management, and strategic operations as the league has grown significantly and rapidly.

Hanna Rozzi

Assistant, Social Impact, Growth Initiatives, & Legislative Affairs, NHL

Hanna Rozzi is leading the development and strategy of a new NHL program to support active military members, veterans, and their families. A proud Army veteran herself, Rozzi co-founded the NHL’s first Veterans Employee Resource Group, launched this past year. As well, Rozzi works closely with her teammates to coordinate the NHL’s annual participation in the NYC Pride Parade, as well as supporting the event management of the annual Pride Cup, which is hosted in a new location each year. Rozzi also serves as the Executive Assistant to Kim Davis, Senior Executive Vice President of Social Impact, Growth Initiatives and Legislative Affairs at the NHL.

Courtney Ryan

Player, Team USA Wheelchair Basketball

A two-time Paralympic Games medalist, Courtney Ryan has emerged as a star for Team USA Women’s Wheelchair Basketball. Ryan is a consistent scorer and team leader. Ryan, along with teammate Josie Aslakson and others, was also the star of the Emmy-nominated Outsports series “Ballin’ Out,” as well as the Peacock original series “Adaptive,” a show highlighting adaptive sports. Ryan is the assistant coach to Aslakson for the University of Arizona women’s wheelchair basketball team.

SonicFox

Pro Esports Player

SonicFox is a trailblazing esports competitor known for dominance in fighting games like “Mortal Kombat,” “Injustice” and “Dragon Ball FighterZ.” A five-time Evolution Championship Series winner, they’re celebrated for skill, creativity, and unapologetic authenticity. SonicFox, who identifies as nonbinary, has become both a gaming icon and a visible advocate for LGBTQ representation in esports.

Josh Sorbe

Spokesman, Senate Judiciary Democrats

A former NCAA Division I swim team captain for the University of South Dakota, in his home state, Josh Sorbe now works in D.C. as spokesperson for the Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats. He’s made sports a major part of his powerful social influencer presence — he runs marathons, coaches at his local branch of fitness studio Sweatbox, and advocates for greater LGBTQ inclusion across the board. When he penned a coming out story for Outsports in 2020, he signed off by saying: “Fight like hell, because your visibility matters.” He’s living that message today.

Adriana Tonelli

Broadcast Senior News Editor, CBS Sports

After joining CBS Sports two years ago, Adriana Tonelli has led editorial coverage for Serie A and the Attacking Third podcast, consistently elevating CBS’ storytelling. This summer, she expanded her role into producing, taking the lead on some of CBS Sports’ most important Matchday and women’s soccer programming. With CBS Sports’ UEFA Women’s Champion League partnership, Tonelli will play a pivotal role in shaping and launching coverage as a lead producer of CBS Sports’ new studio show, “UEFA Women’s Champions League Today.”

Kimberly Veale

SVP, Marketing and Communications, Golden State Valkyries

Kimberly Veale is becoming a powerful force in the public outreach for the WNBA. After five years with the NBA’s Golden State Warriors, she was tapped to lead marketing and communications for the Golden State Valkyries. That upstart WNBA team had massive success in its first season, both on and off the court. Now Veale has joined the Portland Fire, which will begin WNBA play in 2026.

The post Rising 50 highlights powerful LGBTQ up-and-comers and veterans in sports on Power 100 appeared first on Outsports.