On Monday, March 6, the PTPA will be joining forces with Citi Taste of Tennis – tennis’ premier culinary experience – to host an evening of VIP player programming and a kick-off party ahead of the tournament’s start. The VIP player mixer will feature a panel discussion with sports and entertainment thought-leaders, including Chamillionaire, Grammy Award-winning rapper and prominent investor; Jacquelyn Dahl, founder and CEO of 1UP Sports Marketing and marketing agent for Patrick Mahomes and Alex Morgan; Nneka Ogwumike, power forward for the Los Angeles Sparks and President of the WNBA Players Association; Jalen Rose, NBA legend and ESPN studio analyst; and Aly Wagner, US Women’s National Team legend and broadcaster for CBS Sports and Fox Sports.
The player-exclusive event is open to all professional men’s and women’s players – to receive more info, players should reach out to their PTPA point of contact, or email info@ptpaplayers.com.
In addition to mixing and mingling with players, the special guests will use the panel discussion to share their unique perspectives and experiences across various sports and sides of the industry. Panelists will shed light on athlete empowerment, how athletes can shape the business and trajectory of their sport, the future of athlete-centric commercial opportunities, and much more.
Following the player-exclusive event, the PTPA will join Citi Taste of Tennis for the evening’s main event, featuring 2x Grand Slam Winner Tracy Austin and Michelin Star Chef Minh Phan, along with 14 top local chefs. This is the first joint event between the PTPA and Citi Taste of Tennis. The collaboration represents an exciting opportunity for the PTPA to continue fostering relationships and working with other stakeholders in the industry that are passionate about supporting players and growing the game. Players who join the PTPA’s player-exclusive event are invited to stay for the Citi Taste of Tennis party.
On Tuesday, March 7, the PTPA will be co-hosting a business leaders brunch with the Desert Smash organization. The invite-only event will feature a fireside chat on the state of tennis and industry opportunities with Bill Ackman, Chairman of the Winners Alliance Board and CEO & Founder of Pershing Square Capital Management, L.P.; Vasek Pospisil, PTPA Co-Founder, Executive Committee member and current No. 139 in the world; and Ons Jabeur PTPA Executive Committee member and current No. 4 in the world.
For more information, please email info@ptpaplayers.com or complete our contact form here.
More Info on the PTPA’s Player Event Special Guests
Chamillionaire
Chamillionaire is a Grammy Award winning musician who is hailed around the world for his platinum selling album, “The Sound of Revenge,” which spawned the multi-platinum single “Ridin Dirty.” More than a decade of success in the music industry has provided him with the entrepreneurial skills and business savvy that paved the way for his ascension into the tech industry. He was previously an Entrepreneur in Residence at Upfront Ventures, one of the largest early-stage investment firms in Southern California, and now he is the founder and CEO of Access Club, a product designed to reduce the friction that has historically prevented people in some of the most influential but untapped communities from participating in the private investing space. He has invested in more than 60 tech companies including Maker Studios (acquired by Disney), Cruise (acquired by GM), and Lyft, and he also advises a number of high profile entertainers and athletes on their tech investments.
Jacquelyn Dahl
Jacquelyn is the founder and CEO of 1UP Sports Marketing, a full-service sports marketing agency specializing in marketing, endorsements, branding, creative, events and experiences. She represents some of the biggest names in sports, including Patrick Mahomes and Alex Morgan. Jacquelyn’s previous experience includes stops at Fox Sports, the Houston Astros and the San Diego Padres. She played Division I tennis at UC San Diego.
Nneka Ogwumike
Nneka is a power forward for the Los Angeles Sparks and President of the WNBA Players Association (“WNBPA”). She was drafted by the Sparks No. 1 overall in the 2012 WNBA Draft following a standout collegiate career at Stanford, where she helped lead the Cardinal to the Final Four four times. Nneka was named WNBA MVP during the 2016 season and won the WNBA Finals with the Sparks the same year. She has served as President of the WNBPA since 2016, winning re-election in 2019 and winning re-election to a third term in December 2022. She was instrumental in negotiating for the ground-breaking 2020 collective bargaining agreement that saw major pay increases and guarantees of full salaries of players on maternity leave, among other enhanced player benefits.
Jalen Rose
Jalen is an ESPN studio analyst appearing on a variety of shows including “First Take” and “Get Up.” He has been a studio analyst for “NBA Countdown” since 2012 and provides NBA analysis for various ESPN programming. In college, Jalen was a member of the University of Michigan’s “Fab Five” basketball team that reached back-to-back NCAA National Championship Games in 1992-1993. Jalen was the 13th overall pick in the 1994 NBA Draft and went on to reach three consecutive Eastern Conference Finals and the 2000 NBA Finals with the Indiana Pacers before retiring in 2007. Jalen is also the founder of the Jalen Rose Foundation/Charitable Fund, a philanthropy dedicated to creating life-changing opportunities for underserved youth, and the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy, a tuition-free public charter high school in Detroit.
Aly Wagner
Aly is a US Women’s National Team legend, broadcaster, and USL team owner. Aly competed with the USWNT between 1998-2008, appearing in 131 games and winning two Olympic gold medals and two Women’s World Cup bronze medals. Currently, Aly is a broadcaster at CBS Sports and Fox Sports, serving as the lead game analyst for the networks’ USWNT coverage. She is also a part-owner of Queensboro FC – an expansion USL team out of Queens, NY, debuting in the 2023 USL Championship season – and is one of four USWNT legends championing the Bay Area’s bid for an expansion NWSL team.