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San Francisco, CA \u2013 April 11, 2023<\/strong> <\/p>\n \u201cAt that time, I was just a data science student enthusiastic about basketball but with little knowledge of sports analytics, feeling like a rookie about to face the pros. I never thought I could turn my passion into a career.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Sherry Zhang, a University of Michigan Master’s student studying Big Data Analytics, was first introduced to Women in Sports Tech (WiST) at the Women in Sports Data Hackathon & Symposium hosted by the Brooklyn Nets & New York Liberty where WiST co-presented the symposium last August. <\/p>\n In WiST\u2019s sixth year of the WiST Fellowship program, Zhang has been selected as a 2023 WiST Fellow, along with 21 other talented undergraduates, graduates and PhD students enrolled at 20 different universities and spanning 21 different degrees and programs across the U.S.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter attending my first Sports Data conference I realized I could actually combine my love for data science and sports into a fulfilling career in sports analytics. Meeting these talented and motivated women further strengthened my desire to be part of this community,\u201d Zhang says.<\/p>\n \u201cUpon discovering the WiST Fellowship and its plethora of internship opportunities in sports analytics, I knew I had to shoot my shot and apply right away to learn, grow, and become a part of this inspiring community. I’ll be analyzing MLB data and uncovering hidden gems in those stats. I’m eager to learn how data analytics turns the numbers into game-changing insights.\u201d<\/p>\n In a full circle experience, WiST Partner Stats Perform sponsored the Hackathon and would soon provide Sherry\u2019s first opportunity to dive into the world of sports analytics and gain hands-on experience as a 2023 WiST Fellow and Stats Perform Data Insights Intern.<\/p>\n Supporting transformative growth opportunities for women and employers, Stats Perform and other WiST partners such as IBM, GameChanger, HOKA, Sports Reference and Comcast Sports Tech provide ongoing validation for the WiST Fellowship program, highlighting sports tech as an industry ripe with exciting career opportunities for women.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe WiST Fellowship Program proactively places exceptional women within organizations, affording them the opportunity to break through and learn from their respective host companies. This program is immensely valuable not only for the Fellows but also for the participating companies, who often struggle to identify talented female candidates in a sea of male counterparts,\u201d says Nancy Hensley, Chief Product Officer and Chief Marketing Officer of Stats Perform and WiST Advisor.<\/p>\n The WiST Fellowship uniquely benefits host companies by tapping into the next generation of diverse ideas and new perspectives, with research supporting that diverse teams and inclusive cultures drive innovation.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI hope for us to absorb the unique insights and fresh perspectives that our Fellows bring to the table, as such innovative thinking can serve as the impetus for growth. It is imperative that we wholeheartedly embrace this potential, as evidenced by this recently released research<\/span><\/a> out of McKinsey,\u201d adds Hensley.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Class of 2023 results from extensive outreach and a comprehensive selection process where candidates were evaluated on leadership potential, work ethic, and a strong growth mindset to enter the sports tech industry. This also marks the first year the program is specifically open to nonbinary students who may not identify as she\/her.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe welcome this talented and ambitious group of students to the WiST community and congratulate each on becoming a 2023 WiST Fellow. Our partners like Stats Perform support and respect the WiST Fellowship Program for the extraordinary experiences for the Fellows and host companies alike,\u201d said Marilou McFarlane, CEO+Founder of WiST. \u201cIt is rewarding beyond measure for us to see how many of the students end up working for their host companies or other WiST Partners after they graduate. We are, in fact, changing the ratio and building more inclusive business cultures.\u201d<\/p>\n