From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
| Line 23: | Line 23: | ||
|
==Executive career== |
==Executive career== |
||
|
=== |
=== === |
||
|
Smith began her career working for the [[Oakland Athletics]] of MLB in roles within ticketing and sponsorship. |
|||
|
Padover began his career in the [[WNBA]] with the [[New York Liberty]] by being their video coordinator in 2012. He was promoted numerous times while with the Liberty and was a part of being their Basketball Operations Manager, Director of Basketball Operations, and finally their Vice President of Basketball Operations.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dan Padover |url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-padover-02741a44?challengeId=AQH2jUFP7SpPzgAAAYkEwhsuFjstmzgW7sgYeK0YnoR3OZGxsuR-nZORNZyibeMTHu-SF8y-UEjYra4sVJyfqhMPTVcR0FZNng&submissionId=695f1fc1-dafc-6c17-7953-de0d4a753b22&challengeSource=AgFP6swlc_fTbAAAAYkEwltrwLux631oT2hB36diFles8Y1aglZibRZxc0krewY&challegeType=AgEoFHH76uOXlAAAAYkEwltuskd_6NmXZe_ofOGdEGAs8dE7buRDXFU&memberId=AgG1nVVRPwHmagAAAYkEwltxZZ5mSFuuHTLxB8WuVfU4a9o&recognizeDevice=AgEIdaOomt5djwAAAYkEwlt0unX2kGu4IMyo8zk9qYMqUldZzBVq |website=linkedin.com |publisher=Linked In |access-date=29 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Connolly |first1=Daniel |title=UConn alumnus Dan Padover named general manager of Atlanta Dream |url=https://www.theuconnblog.com/2021/10/25/22744823/uconn-huskies-alumnus-dan-padover-named-general-manager-of-atlanta-dream |website=theuconnblog.com |date=25 October 2021 |publisher=SB Nation |access-date=29 June 2023}}</ref> During his time with New York, the Liberty made the playoffs four times, going to the Conference Finals in 2015. |
|||
|
=== |
=== === |
||
|
She then worked for the [[Columbus Blue Jackets]] of the NHL as Director of Corporate Development. |
|||
|
Padover joined the Aces’s franchise in 2018, reuniting with former head coach [[Bill Laimbeer]]. The two worked previously together while both with the Liberty. He was named the General Manager in 2019.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Akers |first1=Mick |title=Aces two-time executive of the year hired away from team |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/aces/aces-two-time-executive-of-the-year-hired-away-from-team-2466038/ |website=reviewjournal.com |date=25 October 2021 |publisher=Las Vegas Review-Journal |access-date=29 June 2023}}</ref> Following the 2020 season, Padover was named the [[WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year Award]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Las Vegas’ Dan Padover Named 2020 WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year |url=https://www.wnba.com/news/las-vegas-dan-padover-named-2020-wnba-basketball-executive-of-the-year |website=wnba.com |publisher=WNBA |access-date=29 June 2023}}</ref> Padover won the Executive of the Year Award again in 2021, after signing [[Chelsea Gray]], [[Riquna Williams]], and [[Kiah Stokes]] to help the Aces’s efforts during the year.<ref>{{cite web |title=Las Vegas Aces General Manager of Basketball Operations Dan Padover Named the 2021 WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year |url=https://www.wnba.com/news/las-vegas-aces-general-manager-of-basketball-operations-dan-padover-named-the-2021-wnba-basketball-executive-of-the-year |website=wnba.com |publisher=WNBA |access-date=29 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Las Vegas Aces general manager of basketball operations Dan Padover named the 2021 WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/nba/news/las-vegas-aces-general-manager-of-basketball-operations-dan-padover-named-the-2021-wnba-basketball-executive-of-the-year/1e5rpd8nk53fi1kscw6r58996x |website=sportingnews.com |date=30 September 2021 |publisher=The Sporting News |access-date=29 June 2023}}</ref> |
|||
|
===San Jose Earthquakes=== |
|||
|
Smith served as Vice President of Sponsorship for the [[San Jose Earthquakes]] of (MLS). |
|||
|
===New York Liberty=== |
|||
|
=== |
=== === |
||
|
Following the 2025 season, Smith was named the recipient of the [[WNBA Business Executive Leadership Award|WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year Award]]. |
|||
|
In October 2021, Padover left the Aces organization to become the General Manager and Executive Vice President for the [[Atlanta Dream]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Atlanta Dream names Dan Padover as General Manager, Darius Taylor as Assistant General Manager |url=https://dream.wnba.com/news/atlanta-dream-names-dan-padover-as-general-manager-darius-taylor-as-assistant-general-manager/ |website=dream.wnba.com |publisher=WNBA |access-date=29 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Voepel |first1=M.V. |title=Atlanta Dream continue to rebuild: hire Aces exec Dan Padover as GM, name Darius Taylor assistant GM |url=https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/32471530/hires-aces-exec-dan-padover-gm-names-darius-taylor-assistant-gm |website=ESPN.com |date=25 October 2021 |publisher=ESPN |access-date=29 June 2023}}</ref> One of the first things he did with the Dream was trade for the #1 overall pick in the [[2022 WNBA draft]]. This allowed the Dream to select [[Rhyne Howard]], who would be named the [[WNBA Rookie of the Year]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Zucker |first1=Joseph |title=Atlanta Dream Acquire No. 1 Pick in 2022 WNBA Draft in Trade with Mystics |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10031896-atlanta-dream-acquire-no-1-pick-in-2022-wnba-draft-in-trade-with-mystics |website=bleacherreport.com |publisher=Bleacher Report |access-date=29 June 2023}}</ref> After one season with the Dream, Padover and head coach [[Tanisha Wright]] signed five-year contract extensions with the Dream.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Merchant |first1=Sabreena |title=Dream sign coach Tanisha Wright, GM Dan Padover to 5-year contract extensions |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4021737/2022/12/20/dream-tanisha-wright-dan-padover-contract/ |website=theathletic.com |publisher=The Athletic |access-date=29 June 2023}}</ref> On September 23, 2025, Padover was named the [[WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year Award]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Atlanta Dream’s Dan Padover Wins Record Third WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year Award |url=https://www.wnba.com/news/padover-2025-executive-of-the-year |website=wnba.com |publisher=[[WNBA]] |date=September 23, 2025 |access-date=September 24, 2025}}</ref> |
|||
|
==See also== |
==See also== |
||
Revision as of 07:25, 8 November 2025
American Basketball executive
Jess Smith is an American basketball executive who is the President of the Golden State Valkyries of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). She previously worked for the Angel City FC in a multitude of roles, before moving to the .
Early life
Smith attended State University of New York at Oswego for her undergraduate degree in journalism and Ohio University for her master’s degree in .
Executive career
Oakland Athletics
Smith began her career working for the Oakland Athletics of MLB in roles within ticketing and sponsorship.
Columbus Blue Jackets
She then worked for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the NHL as Director of Corporate Development.
San Jose Earthquakes
Smith served as Vice President of Sponsorship for the San Jose Earthquakes of (MLS).
New York Liberty
Golden State Valkyries
Following the 2025 season, Smith was named the recipient of the WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year Award.
See also
References
Format
The current home-and-away format in the NBA Finals is 2–2–1–1–1 (the team with the better regular season record plays on its home court in games 1, 2, 5, and 7). It was previously in a 2–3–2 format (t
he team with the better regular season record plays on its home court in games 1, 2, 6, and 7). Other formats used include 1–2–2–1–1 (the team with the better regular season record plays on its home court in games 1, 4, 5, and 7) and 1–1–1–1–1–1–1 (the team with the better regular season record plays on its home court in games 1, 3, 5, and 7). A breakdown of the various formats used over the years is shown below.
References
https://www.wnba.com/news/wnba-expansion-cleveland-detroit-philadelphia
Awards template
Individual
Team
Player of the Week
| Week ending | Eastern Conference | Western Conference | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Team | Player | Team | |
| May | ||||
| June | ||||
| July | ||||
| August | ||||
| September | ||||
