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WISE NAMES TED LEONSIS, FOUNDER, CHAIRMAN, MAJORITY OWNER & CEO OF MONUMENTAL SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT, 2017 WISE CHAMPION AWARD RECIPIENT

Award Recognizing Male Executive Who Has Championed Women
in the Workplace to be Presented at Annual WISE Women of the Year Luncheon

May 5, 2017 (New York, NY) — Women in Sports and Events (WISE), the leading voice and resource for women in the business of sports, today announced that Ted Leonsis, founder, chairman majority owner & CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, will be presented with the 2017 WISE Champion Award during this year's WISE Women of the Year Awards Luncheon on Thursday, June 22 at the New York Marriott Marquis in New York City. Pam Oliver, senior correspondent and NFL sideline reporter for FOX Sports, will emcee this year's luncheon.

The WISE Champion Award annually recognizes a male executive who has championed the advancement of women in the workplace. Past recipients of the WISE Champion Award include John Skipper, ESPN president and Disney Media Networks co-chairman; Casey Wasserman, chairman and CEO of Wasserman; Ross Greenburg, former president of HBO Sports; Sean McManus, chairman of CBS Sports; and Dick Ebersol, former chairman of NBC Sports.

"Ted is an exemplary leader in promoting women in sports across his powerhouse properties," said Kathleen Francis, national chair of WISE. "As owner and CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, he has played an integral role in putting women at the forefront of his business — on the basketball court, in the boardroom and on the front lines of his numerous teams and organizations. We are honored to recognize his work in changing the industry landscape with this award."

Leonsis founded Monumental Sports & Entertainment in 2010, which operates the Washington Capitals (NHL), Washington Wizards (NBA) and Washington Mystics (WNBA), as well as the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. He is also the managing owner of the Washington Valor and Baltimore Brigade (AFL); co-founder of Revolution Growth; and chairman of the board of Groupon. Leonsis spent 13 years as a senior executive at AOL and remains its vice chairman emeritus.

"Our company is stronger, more innovative and more efficient when women are at the table helping drive our decision-making," said Leonsis. "We are committed to ensuring that diverse viewpoints inform our thinking, and I'm incredibly proud that that is reflected in Monumental Sports and Entertainment's work across all of our properties, from sports to events to digital content creation and more. I want to thank WISE for this honor and congratulate them on all of the important work that they do day in and day out to promote women in the business of sports. I'm humbled to join the ranks of such esteemed previous recipients."

Recipients of the WISE Champion Award are selected based on the following criteria:

• Champions the role of women in the business of sports through the successful creation of new jobs, mentoring and networking opportunities
• Clearly communicates a vision for women in the industry and their continued advancement
• Shows consistent commitment to the promotion of women's careers and recognition of their professional accomplishments

As previously announced, the 2017 recipients of the WISE Women of the Year Award are Doris Burke, basketball analyst and reporter, ESPN; Buffy Filippell, founder, TeamWork Online; and Amy Trask, NFL analyst, CBS Sports Network and CEO, BIG3.

Oliver, a 2008 WISE Women of the Year honoree, joined the NFL on FOX in 1995 and quickly established herself as one of the premier sports reporters on network television. She currently contributes to FOX NFL, FOX NFL SUNDAY and FS1.

More information about the 2017 WISE Women of the Year Awards Luncheon, set for Thursday, June 22 at the New York Marriott Marquis, can be found at WISEworks.org.

About WISE
WISE (Women in Sports and Events), is the leading voice and resource for professional women in the business of sports. Through ongoing meetings, special events, and mentoring and educational programs, WISE aims to offer its members the opportunity to gain valuable industry insights and connections that can provide them with a competitive advantage in their current position and as they advance in their careers. Founded in 1993, WISE is a national membership organization and registered 501(c)3 public charity headquartered in New York City, with chapters in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Houston, Los Angeles, NYC Metro, Pittsburgh, San Diego, San Francisco/Bay Area, South Florida and Washington, D.C. For more information on WISE, please visit WISEworks.org.

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