Valerie Ackerman

Valerie B. “Val” Ackerman (Col ’81 L/M) has been presented with the Billie Jean King Contribution Award by the Women’s Sports Foundation at its annual awards gala in New York City. This annual award is earned by the demonstration of a lasting commitment and dedication to the growth of sports, fitness and physical activity for women and girls. Ms. Ackerman, the first president of the WNBA and current commissioner of the Big East Conference, previously was president of USA Basketball and U.S. representative to the International Basketball Federation. At the University, she was one of the school’s first women to receive an athletic scholarship, and was a starter for the Cavaliers’ basketball team for four years, captain for three, and was twice named Academic All-American. She was also the school’s first female basketball player to score 1,000 points.