Congratulations 2026 Winners!
2026 Winners Announced!
Hundreds of sports media, marketing and technology executives gathered in New York City on June 4 for the 2026 Cynopsis Sports Awards & Top Women in Sports Gala, celebrating the people, organizations and innovations shaping the future of sports media.
The evening honored excellence across content, distribution, fan engagement, brand strategy, data, technology and executive leadership, while recognizing an extraordinary class of Top Women in Sports honorees driving innovation across the industry.
To further celebrate this year’s winners and honorees, sister publication CFX dedicated its June Sports Issue to the leaders, teams and innovations breaking down barriers between fans and the sports they love. The issue features exclusive Luminary profiles of NBCUniversal, the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) and Stanley 1913, along with a special Top Women in Sports feature spotlighting the executives reshaping media rights, sponsorships and storytelling across the sports ecosystem.
Explore the winners and honorees below, or read the full CFX Sports Issue to learn how they’re changing the game for fans, brands and the future of sports media.
2026 LUMINARIES
League of the Year
Brand of the Year
Sports Property of the Year
2026 Winners
CONTENT & PROGRAMMING
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Alternative Sports Telecast
WinnerHonorable Mentions -
Best "All Access" Sports Documentary or Docu-Series
Winner -
Best Sports Athlete/Personality Documentary or Docu-Series
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Best Sports Team/Event/Competition Documentary or Docu-Series
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Live Coverage of a Sporting Event
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Short-Form Sports Series (Webisode or Digital Original)
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Specialized Live Coverage of a Sporting Event
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Sports Podcast of the Year
Honorable Mentions -
Studio or Pregame Sports Show - Regional
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Studio or Pregame Sports Show - Regional
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Studio or Pregame Sports Show - National
CONTENT STORYTELLING & BRAND PARTNERSHIPS
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Best Specialized Sports Content Storytelling (Brand or League)
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Best Sports Content Storytelling (Brand or League)
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Best Sports Social & Creator Strategy
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Best Use of Brand Activation – Women’s Sports Properties
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Sports Social Impact Initiative
PLATFORMS, DISTRIBUTION & VIEWING EXPERIENCE
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Best AltCast Experience
Honorable Mention -
Best High School Sports Innovation
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Best High School Sports Innovation
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Best Sports Streaming Platform
Honorable Mentions -
Content Discovery Innovation
Honorable Mention -
Emerging Sports Platform
Honorable Mention -
Local Sports Media Network of the Year Regional
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Sports Media Platform of the Year
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Local Sports Media Network of the Year Local
MARKETING, BRAND & FAN ENGAGEMENT
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Best Campaign to Engage Consumers 30 and Younger
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Best Sports Creative or Tune-In Promotion
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Best Sports Fan Engagement Platform or Tool
Honorable Mention -
Best Sports Marketing Campaign
TECHNOLOGY, DATA & AD INNOVATION
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Best Sports Data, Measurement or Analytics Innovation
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Sports Technology Innovation of the Year
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Technical Innovation for the Ad Experience
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Sports Betting Experience or Innovation
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Digital Out-of-Home (DOOH) Innovation
EXECUTIVE & LEADERSHIP AWARDS
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Digital Executive of the Year
WinnerHonorable Mention -
Marketing Executive of the Year
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Production Executive of the Year
WinnerHonorable Mentions -
Sports Strategist of the Year
WinnerHonorable Mention
2026 Top Women in Sports
The Cynopsis Top Women in Sports Awards honors the leaders shaping the future of the sports media industry. From content and production to marketing, technology, and executive leadership, these women are driving innovation, influence, and impact across the sports ecosystem.
Brand-Side Marketing & Sponsorship
Aminah Charles
Head of North America Sports MarketingBeats by DreAmy Montagne
PresidentNikeDedra DeLilli
VP, Marketing CommunicationsToyotaStephanie Marciano
Chief Strategy OfficerUnderdog & CompanyDistribution Platforms
Amy Geary
EVP, Platform Distribution and PartnershipsNBCUniversalAmina Hussein
Head of Sports TalentPrime Video SportsRosalyn Durant
EVP, Programming & AcquisitionsESPNMarketing Leadership: Leagues & Teams
Heidi Browning Pearson
Senior EVP and Chief Marketing OfficerNHLJayne Bussman-Wise
VP, Growth Strategy & New VenturesProfessional Women’s Hockey LeagueJennifer Cramer
Executive Vice PresidentMLSMarissa Solis
SVP Global Brand and Consumer MarketingNFLRevenue & Monetization
Amy Brooks
President, Global Business DevelopmentNBAJill Gregory
COOTWG MotorsportsKierstin Pry
Senior Director, Global Pricing & Planning, Revenue OperationsRokuLouise Emmerson
SVP, Global SalesDAZNSports Marketing & Agencies
Elizabeth Lindsey
President, Brands & PropertiesTHE·TEAMMelissa Woltman
Vice PresidentOctagonMonique Jacobs
Director, Global Sports & EntertainmentWPPStreaming & Digital Sports Platforms
Adriana Becerra
Senior Vice President, Content & Creative OperationsTubiAmy McDevitt
Head of Sports Brand PartnershipsAmazonAngela Courtin
Vice President, YouTube Marketing Brand, Creative, Culture and MediaYouTubeDanielle Brown
Senior Vice President, Sports Streaming & Brand SolutionsDisneyKate Jackson
Director Live SportsNetflixTelevision Networks
Lindsey Lloyd
Vice President, Media & ProductionWWEMonica Gil
EVP, Chief Administrative and Marketing OfficerTelemundoTerri Hines
EVPFox SportsTina Thornton
EVP, Creative Studio and MarketingESPNLeagues & Team Organizations
Sandra Douglass Morgan
PresidentLas Vegas RaidersSandra Idehen
CommissionerLeague One VolleyballMicky Lawler
CommissionerUnrivaled BasketballKim Ng
CommissionerAthletes Unlimited SoftballCindy Parlow Cone
PresidentU.S. Soccer FederationGlobal Leagues & International Sports Properties
Emily Prazer
President & CEO, Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand PrixFormula 1Mariana Banús
Head of FIFA FoundationFIFASally Horrox
Chief of Women’s RugbyWorld RugbySarah Hirshland
Chief Executive OfficerU.S. Olympic & Paralympic CommitteeData, Technology & Fan Experience
Amanda Archer
Senior Director, Growth MarketingNielsenJessica Gelman
Chief Executive OfficerKraft Analytics GroupKristen O’Hara
VP, Agency, Platforms & Client SolutionsGoogleRia Madrid
VP, AdvertisingWURLCreator-Led & Digital Sports Media
Ellen Hyslop
Co-FounderThe GISTDanette Leighton
Chief Executive OfficerWomen’s Sports FoundationJessica Robertson
Co-Founder & Chief Brand OfficerTogethxrHaley Rosen
Founder & CEOJust Women’s SportsLily Shimbashi
FounderSports.ishTHANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Title Sponsor
PR PARNTER
Sponsorship
Position your brand at the center of sports media’s most influential recognition program. Cynopsis Sports Awards sponsorships provide meaningful exposure to top executives and teams driving innovation across the sports media ecosystem—on stage, online, and throughout the awards lifecycle.
For details and custom packages, contact Vernesa Merdanovic at vmerdanovic@accessintel.com
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:
Contact Us
You won’t want to miss this opportunity to connect with the leading executives in the industry. Connect with the following Cynopsis team members today!
ENTRIES & ATTENDING
Isabella Aslarona
Marketing Manager
iaslarona@accessintel.com
SPONSORSHIP
Vernesa Merdanovic
vmerdanovic@accessintel.com