Women’s sports leaders gather at The Collective brunch to shape next era

August 31, 2026

Women’s sports leaders—team owners, athletes, investors, and executives—gathered in Portland for The Collective’s Women’s Sports Brunch during Epicenter Week to turn momentum into action, sharing ideas and building partnerships that advance the industry. Organizers Lisa Bhathal Merage (Portland Fire/Thorns) and Thayer Lavielle (The Collective at The Team) framed the event as a space for “inclusion and belonging” where new conversations spark real projects, from past All-Star parties to the dual-sport Kaiser Permanente Performance Center for the Thorns and Fire. Key themes included “seeking our value” for women athletes as both competitors and brand executives, and leveraging deeper storytelling—on and off the field—to fuel fan engagement and brand campaigns. USA Today