As Atlanta buzzed with the excitement of MLB All-Star Week, the spotlight wasn’t just on the athletes taking the field, but also on the women transforming the game from the dugout to the boardroom. On Monday, July 14, 2025, an exclusive and game-changing event—the inaugural Women Raise the Game x MLB x AUSL Honors Lunch—took place at Punch Bowl Social at The Battery Atlanta. Hosted by Major League Baseball, Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL), and Women Raise the Game, the event paid tribute to five female powerhouses shaping the future of the sport.
The event coincided with a historic first: Major League Baseball’s strategic investment in a professional women’s softball league. This partnership with AUSL not only represented a bold commitment to infrastructure and visibility but also signaled a turning point in how women’s sports are valued and supported. It was a definitive step toward a more inclusive future for baseball and softball.
Setting the tone for the afternoon was a keynote address by Women Raise the Game Founder and CEO Tish Galindo. Her words framed the celebration as one of legacy, leadership, and the power of visibility in sports.
“Today in Atlanta, we celebrated five women whose leadership is shaping the next chapter of sport. Each of them is building infrastructure, driving growth, and redefining what’s possible in the game. I launched Women Raise the Game to move the industry forward, and honoring leaders like these is part of that mission. Recognition is a marker of growth, and growth is the work,” said Galindo.
The honorees included a powerhouse lineup: Kim Ng, AUSL’s newly named Commissioner; DeRetta Rhodes, Ph.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Culture Officer for the Atlanta Braves; Olympic medalist Natasha Watley; youth sports advocate and Olympic gold medalist Jennie Finch; and MLB’s own Sarah Padove, Senior Manager of Baseball & Softball Development.
A standout moment of the day was a fireside chat moderated by Emmy Award-winning MLB Network analyst and former All-Star Harold Reynolds. Joining him in conversation were MLB Commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr., AUSL Commissioner Kim Ng, and Jennie Finch, who serves both as MLB Youth Softball Ambassador and advisor to AUSL.
“This event was about legacy and leadership,” added Galindo. “We honored the women whose vision and expertise are creating lasting economic and cultural impact across professional sports. Their influence is helping to scale what’s possible in baseball, softball, and beyond.”
From elegant red carpet entrances to the final toast, the luncheon delivered an inspiring afternoon that blended celebration with substance. More than just an awards ceremony, it was a resounding declaration: investment in women’s sports is not just necessary—it’s now.
Powering this initiative was The 360 Agency, the AI-led marketing firm behind Women Raise the Game. Known for leveraging cultural insight and technology to drive brand innovation, The 360 Agency made a clear statement: the future of sports includes women at the helm.
For more information, visit the360agency.com and womenraisethegame.com.
