00:00I'm just so full right now, and this room knows what that means, but this is truly, truly an honor
00:07for me to be recognized here today, especially alongside such inspiring honorees. I feel like
00:13a baby in here, not by age, just by what you've accomplished and the impact that you've had.
00:19As a little girl, I would always try to get a look at my auntie J's copy of Essence before
00:25she could. It was one of the first places where I saw women who looked like me, and they were
00:30celebrated for power, and they were celebrated for their drive, and I wanted that. To stand here
00:36today as CEO of the Year, which feels crazy, CEO of a WNBA basketball team, it's truly surreal.
00:46My work has always been about creating space where there was none. Today, it's only possible
00:52that we've seen the success we've had, that I've had the success I've seen because of
00:57a strong village, so I have to take a minute to thank the people that I've been blessed
01:00to be in my village. First of all, we already shouted out my mother, Linda, who's here,
01:07who taught me a lot of things, but taught me the power of prayer and to embrace leadership,
01:13even if it felt daunting. To our team owners, Joe and Clara Wu-Sai, to the committed Liberty
01:20staff, they are the absolute best in the business, and to the extraordinary women who play this
01:24game, it is truly the honor of my life to amplify a team and a league made up of women
01:31of color.
01:32And he's not here, but he will see it, and my family will see this. My husband, Brian, and our
01:37children, Avery and Gavin, they see the not-so-cool parts of me. They see the non-sports moments.
01:43The confetti doesn't always fall. The rings aren't always put on our hands, but they hold me up
01:48every single day. I appreciate your support. I thank and love all of you, and let's run it back
01:542026, 30 years. Thank you so much.
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