The Women in Sports Collective formed at the University of Tennessee in 2023 to provide women who are passionate about the sports industry with opportunities to connect, get industry experience and be a part of a group of women who share their interests.
Grace Mangan, a senior at UT and the former president of WISC, shared the importance of the club’s presence on campus.
“This club is female-led and student-led, and is for females around campus who want to pursue a role in the sports industry,” Mangan said. “There’s already not very many of us, and I think it’s really good to have women supporting women here.”
Open to all majors, the WISC is a great way to get involved, diving into many aspects of the sports industry and allowing its members to network and develop connections with other students and professionals.
“Its (WISC) goal is also to create community at the university, as hopefully one day we can lean on each other once in the workforce,” Chloe Seal, UT sophomore and vice president of Events and Initiatives for WISC, said.
In addition to the empowering atmosphere, the organization provides many opportunities for its members, including lectures from guest speakers, education on industry standards, social events, networking and philanthropy work.
One key event which took place in April 2025 was their Women in Sports Exposition, where members were able to network with professionals across various fields, including film, photography, journalism, operations, fan experience, strategic communications and recruiting — displaying the wide range of career interests the WISC helps develop.
During the previous school year, the club presented speakers Josianne Keenan, social media coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Joan Cronan, UT women’s athletic director and Sports Journalists Camille Gear and Paige Dauer.
Seal describes her experience with the WISC’s guest speakers as encouraging, noting how many of the presenters demonstrated the many paths young women can take to be successful in the field.
When it comes to breaking into the sports industry, specifically as a woman, making connections as a student like those found in the WISC helps provide perspective and encouragement to prospective sports professionals.
“In the world of sports, a lot rides on who you know and the connections you have. WISC brings successful women in to help get young women connected,” said Seal.
Mangan described how meeting people and networking is a key part of her experience with the club, especially women at UT who all came from different backgrounds.
“When I found the women in sports collective, I met so many new people [from] so many different backgrounds and cultures,” Mangan said.
Being able to connect and share the WISC experience with so many other women with the same passions is extremely valuable to Mangan.
“It really opened my eyes,” Mangan said.
Not only does the collective engage students with each other and professionals, but also with the greater community. The club now requires five hours of volunteer work per semester for its members, something that Mangan describes as a rewarding experience.
“I started my own drive, which is a sneaker drive for athletes that are running track and cross country,” Mangan said.
She adds that the inspiration for this project came from the WISC and its members.
“They really inspired me to do my own thing … for the benefit of somebody else, and for a community that’s done so much for me,” Mangan said.
The organization’s focus on giving women a place to grow and connect, and engage with the industry during their college years helps its members develop their love for sports right here on campus.
“If you’re passionate about going into the sports industry, it’s for you,” Mangan said.
