GIRLS ACADEMY Annual SUMMIT

Beyond her coaching success, she co-founded What Drives Winning, an organization that focuses on athlete development through character, leadership, and mindset training. Becky remains a powerful advocate for women in sports and continues to mentor athletes and coaches, helping shape the next generation of leaders on and off the field. 

Wagner began her professional career in 2003 after being selected as the number-one pick in the Women’s United Soccer Association Draft by the San Diego Spirit. She also played for the Boston Breakers, Olympique Lyonnais, and Los Angeles Sol.  

After retiring from playing, Wagner transitioned into broadcasting. She has worked for Fox Sports, CBS Sports, and ESPN as a soccer analyst. Notably, during the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, Wagner made history as the first woman to call a men’s FIFA World Cup match on U.S. English-language television.   

In addition to her broadcasting career, Wagner is involved in soccer club ownership. She is an owner of Queensboro FC, a USL Championship club, and a founding owner and co-chair of the National Women’s Soccer League expansion club awarded to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2023.  

A true trailblazer, Kari brings 28 years of on-field officiating experience to her leadership. She served as a FIFA referee from 1999 to 2013, setting a U.S. record by officiating in eight FIFA tournaments, including four FIFA Women’s World Cups and three Olympic Games. Her appointment to the 2011 Women’s World Cup Third-Place Match between Sweden and France marked a historic milestone for American referees on the world stage—standing as the highest-level World Cup game officiated by an American for over a decade. 

Domestically, Kari made her mark across all of the USA’s top-tier professional leagues, working in Major League Soccer, the Women’s United Soccer Association, Women’s Professional Soccer, and the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). She officiated three major league finals, including the 2013 NWSL Championship, and helped set a standard of excellence and professionalism that continues to shape referee development today. 

Kari’s leadership is driven by a passion for the game and a commitment to opening doors for others. Through her work at U.S. Soccer, she is advocating for more women in officiating roles and helping ensure that referees—often the unsung heroes of the sport—are respected, supported, and empowered to thrive. Her journey serves as a powerful example for young girls in the Girls Academy and beyond who are looking for meaningful ways to stay involved in the game—on or off the pitch. 

Shari formerly served as the Executive Vice President of Strategy and Operations at WAVE Sports & Entertainment (WSE), a sports media company. She also worked in strategy consulting at Bain & Company.

Shari has extensive experience working on strategic and operational projects across a diverse set of industries, with specialties include strategic planning, operating model design and implementation, and go-to-market and growth strategy. Through her various roles, she has considerable experience working closely with cross-functional leaders and teams to develop and implement strategies across the organization.

Kimmi Ascanio is a rising American professional soccer midfielder for San Diego Wave FC in the NWSL. She began her career in hometown youth club Florida United SC in Florida’s UPSL Women’s League, leading them to back‑to‑back state titles .

In March 2024, at just 16, Ascanio signed a three‑year contract with San Diego through the Under‑18 Entry Mechanism, becoming one of the youngest pro signings in league history. She made her debut on April 13, 2024, and notched her first assist two weeks later, becoming the third‑youngest player ever in the NWSL to record a goal contribution.

Ascanio also shines on the international stage. She’s been a fixture in U.S. youth national teams since 2022, helping the U‑15s win the 2022 CONCACAF Championship. Following that, she stood out at the 2024 CONCACAF Women’s U‑17 Championship—scoring four goals including a hat‑trick in 8 minutes—and played a key role in the U.S. team earning bronze at the 2024 FIFA U‑17 Women’s World Cup.

In the 2025 NWSL season, Ascanio has emerged as San Diego’s leading offensive threat, registering multiple goals and assists. Notably, she became the youngest player in league history (17 years, 115 days) to score in back‑to‑back regular‑season matches, and scored her first professional goal in stoppage time against Chicago Stars.

At just 17 years old, Ascanio has already made 6 pro appearances, earned 13 caps and netted 5 goals for the U‑17 national team, demonstrating poise, skill, and attacking flair beyond her years .

She graduated from St. Paul’s School (NH) where she was a tri-varsity athlete, then went on to earn her B.A. in History and Government cum laude from Dartmouth College, where she played on the Women’s Lacrosse team, including a trip to the NCAA Final Four. Samantha received her J.D. from Duke Law School and a M.A. in History from Duke University.

While at Duke, Samantha served as a volunteer assistant coach for the Duke University Women’s Lacrosse Team for seven years, during which time she had the honor of coaching her youngest sister, who captained the team to a Final Fours berth and an ACC Championship. Samantha has coached several sports at all different levels: youth, rec, club, high school, and college. She and her husband have five children who have played close to every sport offered within driving distance; four will be in college next year and one in high school.

Pioneering, forward-thinking and solution-focused, Celia Slater is the owner and founder of True North Sports and the Coach Development Academy. She is a nationally recognized leader committed to providing personal and professional development opportunities for coaches of all sports. Celia brings nearly 45 years of unmatched experience in college athletics as an athlete, a collegiate basketball coach and as a CEO of a variety of organizations. 

Prior to starting True North Sports, she was co-founder and executive director of both the NCAA Women Coaches Academy (NCAA WCA) and The Alliance of Women Coaches (Now WeCoach).

Prior to his tenure at Veo, Jono held various positions in the sports industry, including roles at Hudl and Genesis Health Clubs. His extensive experience in sales, marketing, and partnership management has equipped him with a deep understanding of the sports landscape and the needs of athletes and coaches. 

Jono’s commitment to advancing soccer is evident in his active involvement with grassroots initiatives. He serves as the Jr. Academy Director and Video Director at Gretna Elite Academy, where he applies his expertise to foster young talent and integrate technology into training and development programs. 

Under Jono’s leadership, Veo has strengthened its collaboration with the Girls Academy, becoming the Official Video Partner to provide comprehensive video capture, analysis, and league exchange services. This partnership underscores his dedication to empowering female athletes and advancing the future of women’s soccer.