Businessweek Honors Sports Trailblazers

The list features notable athletes including Olivia Dunne, Napheesa Collier, and Breanna Stewart.

Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Basketball

Live Poll

Do you believe prominent individual athlete branding benefits the long-term growth of women's professional sports?

Bloomberg Businessweek recently honored a select group of women in sports as industry trailblazers. The list includes gymnast Olivia Dunne and WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart.

Why it matters

The recognition highlights the growing influence of female athletes who are shaping the future of sports through entrepreneurship and league development. These figures are increasingly recognized for their impact on professional standards and career longevity.

Napheesa Collier is a five-time WNBA All-Star, while Breanna Stewart is a three-time champion who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 draft. The pair also co-founded the Unrivaled basketball league, which utilizes a 3-on-3 format.

The players

Olivia Dunne

She is a gymnast who transitioned into a high-profile media and sports career before retiring in April 2025.

Napheesa Collier

She is a five-time WNBA All-Star and an influential figure who helped secure a new collective bargaining agreement in 2026.

Breanna Stewart

She is a standout forward for the New York Liberty, a two-time WNBA MVP, and a co-founder of the Unrivaled basketball league.

The details

The magazine spotlighted these athletes, analysts, and coaches for their contributions to sports culture and business. Notable honoree Olivia Dunne transitioned to her career after retiring from gymnastics in April 2025.

Breanna Stewart was selected as the No. 1 pick in the 2016 WNBA draft.
Olivia Dunne retired from her gymnastics career in April 2025.
Napheesa Collier helped secure a WNBA collective bargaining agreement in 2026.
Bloomberg Businessweek officially honored the trailblazers in October 2026.

Season Trajectory

The recognition of these athletes as trailblazers follows the precedent set by the 2026 WNBA collective bargaining agreement in reshaping the economic landscape for professional women's basketball. Their work off the court continues to influence current league expansion and player advocacy.

The expansion of the 3-on-3 Unrivaled league offers fans and followers new opportunities to see elite talent compete outside of the standard WNBA schedule. This evolution in the basketball ecosystem provides players with additional professional outlets for competition during the offseason.

The takeaway

The success of these athletes demonstrates how modern sports figures can exert influence far beyond their primary athletic performance. Readers can take away the importance of diversifying professional interests to foster long-term career growth in the sports industry.

What happens next

Napheesa Collier has announced plans to expand the Unrivaled basketball league to additional cities, with further developments expected to be released as the organization scales its operations.