The 2026 WISE Women of the Year honorees are Ilana Kloss, CEO, Billie Jean King Enterprises; Marla Ostroff, Managing Director, North America, Ticketmaster and Janet Marie Smith, EVP of Planning and Development, Los Angeles Dodgers and Chair and Co-Founder, Canopy Team.
"Ilana, Marla and Janet are outstanding examples of leadership in our industry," said Kathleen Francis, President of WISE. "They have each excelled in their fields while opening doors for women across sports. Their influence, innovation and commitment to creating opportunities embody what it means to be a WISE Woman of the Year. We look forward to celebrating them in March."
Each was nominated by WISE members across North America and awarded the distinction by the WISE National Board, the honorees will be recognized for their exceptional leadership, impact and commitment to advancing women in the business of sports at the 30th Annual Awards Luncheon on March 25, 2026 in New York City.
Ilana Kloss
Chief Executive Officer | Billie Jean King Enterprises
As chief executive officer of Billie Jean King Enterprises, Ilana Kloss leads business development and oversees strategic partnerships for the organization. She is also part of the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Angel City Football Club ownership groups, board chair of Billie Jean King Cup Limited, a member of the advisory board of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) and is co-founder of the Billie Jean King Foundation. From 2001-2018, Kloss was CEO and Commissioner of World TeamTennis, managing both the professional sports league and nationwide grassroots recreational programs. A former world No. 1 doubles player and US Open doubles champion, Kloss is actively involved in the Women’s Sports Foundation as both a member of the executive board and past WSF board chair. She also serves on the board of the Elton John AIDS Foundation. A member of both the National and International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, she was named Sports Businesswoman of the Year by the Warsaw Sports Marketing Center. Kloss, and her partner Billie Jean King, were named the most powerful out LGBTQ people in sports, on the first ever Outsports Power 100 List, in 2023.
Marla Ostroff
Managing Director, North America | Ticketmaster
For more than 30 years, Marla Ostroff has played a role in every major industry milestone and trend at Ticketmaster — transitioning hard tickets to computerized, outlets to internet, third party competition to self-ticketing, primary to secondary. Ostroff and her team are dedicated to strengthening and supporting key business relationships with some of Ticketmaster’s largest clients and partners, while continuing to drive new strategic growth opportunities. A leader in the industry for decades, Ostroff’s passion for people also has her focused on developing the next generation of Ticketmaster leaders.
Janet Marie Smith
EVP of Planning and Development | Los Angeles Dodgers
Chair and Co-Founder | Canopy Team
Janet Marie Smith has shaped some of the most iconic venues in sports. Since joining the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2012, she has led major upgrades at Dodger Stadium and Campo Las Palmas, preserving the club’s legacy while modernizing the fan experience. In 2023, Smith and Fran Weld co-founded the Baltimore-based Canopy Team, a woman-led firm specializing in sports, design, and urban development. Focused on revitalizing cities and community spaces, Canopy’s projects include PNC Park (Pittsburgh Pirates), Polar Park (Worcester Red Sox), Stamford Bridge (Chelsea FC), Adidas Arena (Paris Basketball), and others. Smith is widely known for her pioneering work on Oriole Park at Camden Yards, which transformed modern ballpark design and revitalized downtown Baltimore when it opened 33 years ago. She served as VP of planning & development for the Orioles (1989–1994) and later returned (2009–2012) to oversee renovations in Baltimore and Sarasota. Smith also guided the preservation and expansion of Fenway Park for the Boston Red Sox and, earlier, led stadium and arena projects for the Atlanta Braves and Turner Sports. Smith’s portfolio extends beyond baseball to redevelopment initiatives including Battery Park City in New York, Baltimore’s waterfront revitalization, and Rose Bowl improvements in Pasadena. A two-time Edward P. Bass Visiting Professor at Yale School of Architecture, she has also lectured at Harvard and Morgan State. She has been honored as a WISE Los Angeles Woman of Inspiration (2014), Sports Business Journal Champion (2017), and Adweek Most Powerful Woman in Sports (2019). A Mississippi native, Smith was inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame (2020).