Contributed
Cincinnati native and Walnut Hills High School alumna (Class of 1999), Jaia Thomas, recently rang the NASDAQ closing bell in celebration of National Black Women in Sports Day, a groundbreaking initiative she founded to spotlight and celebrate the impact of Black women across the sports industry.
The ceremony served as a historic moment to honor Black women in sports – from agents and executives to athletes and journalists. Thomas, a seasoned sports and entertainment attorney, has long championed equity.
In collaboration with global sports, music and entertainment company Wasserman, the National Black Women in Sports Day initiative also included the release of a first-of-its-kind research report exploring the marketability, media visibility, and commercial potential of Black women in sports.
Jaia Thomas is a proud Walnut Hills High School graduate (Class of 1999) and Board Member at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, founded National Black Women in Sports Day.
In partnership with Wasserman, Jaia has been leading groundbreaking work to elevate the stories and economic impact of Black women across the sports industry. This NASDAQ moment was not only a celebration of Black excellence in sports, but also a proud representation of Cincinnati’s legacy in national leadership.
Jaia Thomas said of her NASDAQ appearance, “It was an amazing moment and statement that Black women are not just participating in sports, we are leading, innovating and shifting the future of the industry.”
On the Black Women in Sports Report with Wasserman, she added, “Partnering with Wasserman for the report helped us to scale the celebration and build a platform needed to inform the industry for Black women to have more visible in sports.”
The NASDAQ moment builds on the work of Diverse Representation, the organization Thomas founded, to increase the presence of Black professionals across sports, entertainment, and media.
Additional activations have included:
- The Sports Agent Boot Camp – a training and networking experience designed for emerging Black sports agents.
- Black Ownership in Sports Symposium – an annual convening to explore equity and access across sports entrepreneurship and executive leadership.
- WME Sports HBCU Pitch Competition – an opportunity powered by WME and Amazon to uplift and fund Black-led ventures in the sports space.
Thomas’ leadership reflects a broader call to action for the industry to not only acknowledge Black talent, but to invest in it.
As National Black Women in Sports Day gains momentum nationwide, Thomas continues to ensure Cincinnati remains part of the story — and part of the solution.