Sports analyst Mary Carillo and former U.S. Tennis Association CEO Katrina Adams discussed their rise to professional success as women in the sports industry and former pro tennis players at a Thursday event. 

The panel, “Holding Court with Mary Carillo and Katrina Adams,” was part of a series of cross-departmental events at Northwestern commemorating the 50th anniversary of Title IX and analyzing what else needs to be done to ensure equality in sports and beyond. Title IX is a series of historic legislation passed in 1972 that prohibits sex-based discrimination for educational programs or activities receiving federal government funding. 

Adams, who played professional tennis before becoming USTA’s CEO, said although she succeeded in her career, the lack of successful women before her means it is still important for women to consistently support each other.

“More people told me that I would get there than I actually saw myself there at an early age,” Adams said. “I didn’t see enough people looking like me on television. So it was more of a dream that I didn’t know would become a reality until much later.”

Both panelists also noted how, whether good or bad, most of the breaks they had in their careers were due to the support of men, who are often the ones with power. 

Carillo said at one point in her sports career at ESPN, there was a story that was a “huge deal” but a colleague didn’t want her to cover it. However, a male coworker stood up for her.

“There was a producer at ESPN who said, ‘If she’s not doing it, I’m not producing it,’” Carillo said. “That was a huge break.”

Medill graduate student Ayanna Bronner, who has a specialization in sports media, said she came to the event because of its participants and the connection she has to it as a woman in sports. 

Bronner said she was touched by the idea that men could also help champion women in sports.

“You don’t really think about it, being a woman in sports, that a lot of opportunities that are going to be granted to you are going to be from men,” Bronner said. “And you just kind of have to roll with that punch.”

Colleen Madden, a Chicago tennis player who attended the event, said she came after visiting a tennis clinic held at NU. 

Madden said the point the panelists made about how women who are ahead should not stop pulling people up to where they are at was notable to her. 

“Growing up playing tennis and obviously seeing Mary commentate over the years, it was great to hear her stories in person, and also to hear how far they have both come and the battles they had to fight to get where they are today as women,” Madden said.

Adams also discussed how when she transitioned to professional tennis, it was easy to get into it without worrying about how she presented herself. 

But when she moved from the court to the boardroom as the CEO of USTA, she always needed to represent herself well because all eyes were on her. 

“I never had a hair out of place; I still don’t,” Adams said. “You’ll never walk away saying anything negative about me because of either the way I look, spoke, or acted in any arena. I continue to have to be twice as good.” 

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