By Essence · Updated October 29th, 2025
At the 5th-annual “Building for Wealth Today & Tomorrow” Summit in Chicago, hosted by Melissa Conyears‑Ervin in her role as City Treasurer, prominent women in sports gathered to share how they’re turning athletic achievement into business leadership, community investment, and generational wealth.
The summit was opened and guided by Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin, reinforcing the theme of financial empowerment and equitable investment in women’s sports and communities.
A panel moderated by Shari Nicole featured:
Linnae Harper (guard for the Washington Mystics)
Rena Wakama (assistant coach for the Chicago Sky and head coach of the Nigerian national team)
Karen Leetzow (President of the Chicago Stars)
Jessica Carrothers (2025 NAIA Women’s Basketball Player of the Year)
Renée Montgomery (former Chicago Sky player, now VP and co-owner of the Atlanta Dream)
More than just athletes, these women are stepping into leadership roles — coaching, team-management, ownership and business investment — and using their platforms to build generational wealth and community uplift.
Treasurer Conyears-Ervin’s role is especially significant: by convening this summit and centering the conversation on wealth-building, financial literacy and community reinvestment, she underscores that the movement isn’t just about sports performance — it’s about economic power, representation and legacy-building.
For example, Linnae Harper shared how overcoming setbacks—such as working in retail during the COVID-19 pandemic despite being a WNBA player—shaped her resilience and commitment to helping younger girls believe in their possibilities. The conversation emphasized the importance of roots and representation. Harper spoke about being present in her south-side Chicago community, providing hope and visibility for young girls often lacking role models.
As a Chicagoan, Nicole noted that despite public figures giving back to their community and having an impact on the city, their presence often remains fleeting. Harper understands her role as a southsider and that is being present—literally. She believes being heavily rooted in her community gives young girls a chance to cherish each opportunity and overcome their adversities. “I want to make sure that these girls have the hope and every opportunity to dream big and do anything, she said.” During draft night, Harper knew she would be a WNBA player—she left disappointed.
The narrative is shifting. Women in sports are no longer just competing — they’re leading, investing, and driving generational change, translating the court into corporate boardrooms, local businesses, mentorship programs, and community wealth. With the right partnerships and programming, sport becomes a conduit for economic equity and legacy-building.
