A USA Basketball Women in the Game Conference is set to take place on Friday, Sept. 24 at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.

The USA Basketball Women in the Game Las Vegas Conference is for high school girls, female college students and young professional women interested in pursuing careers in the sports industry. Leaders from a variety of sports business fields will speak about their career journeys, essential characteristics to succeed in their roles, practical strategies to get started in the sports industry and how to sustain a position in a highly competitive environment.

The conference will start on Sept. 24 with check-in at 9-9:30 a.m. PDT and will conclude its final sessions at 5 p.m. PDT. Registration is $25 and is available online and includes USA Basketball gift items and a catered small breakfast and lunch.

Attendees will have networking opportunities to meet with one another, as well as with speakers. Participants will be required to wear masks and will be physically distanced.

Scheduled to speak at the event are:

• Melissa Barlow, NCAA Division I women's basketball official
• Rushia Brown, Los Angeles Sparks, director of community relations and youth sports
• Nikki Fargas, Las Vegas Aces, president
• Rhonda Lundin Bennett, University of Nevada Reno, senior associate athletic director, senior woman administrator
• Jacqie McWilliams, Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, commissioner
• Chineze Nwagbo, Peace Players Baltimore, interim director
• Dr. Kacey Oiness-Thompson, UNLV Athletics, director of counseling and sports psychology
• Natalie White, Los Angeles Sparks, interim president & chief operating officer

In addition to guest speaker-led sessions, attendees will engage in small group discussions and workshops focused on professional development, leadership training and interactive experiences in the business of sports.

The USA Basketball Women in the Game conferences, which USA Basketball has hosted since 2017, offer a six-week on-going mentorship program to attendees who apply and are selected for entry. The mentorship program connects conference attendees (mentees) with experienced professionals in the sports industry (mentors) to develop personal and professional goals, gain new perspectives and advance within their current or future careers. Weekly discussion topics will guide the interaction between the mentee and mentor through phone and email communication. Application instructions are shared during each individual event registration process.