The Athletes Unlimited Board of Directors is growing, with USA Volleyball star Cassidy Lichtman and former USTA Chairman and President Katrina Adams set to join the board on a one-year term. They will serve alongside Athletes Unlimited CEO and co-founder Jon Patricof, co-founder Jonathan Soros and Salil Seshadri.
Lichtman, who was a founding member of AU in 2020 and has competed in the past two volleyball seasons, will serve as the board’s Athlete Representative, becoming the first active athlete in a professional sports league to do so. Moving forward, AU players will vote on the seat.
“When Athletes Unlimited says they are an athlete-led organization, they mean it,” Lichtman said. “As a player and a member of the Players’ Executive Committee for volleyball I have been able to experience what it means to genuinely have a seat at the table as we work in partnership with Jon, Jonathan, and Athletes Unlimited leadership to make decisions about all aspects of our league. It is incredibly empowering as an athlete, particularly a female athlete, and has really opened my eyes to what the relationship between athletes and a league can look like.
“In giving an athlete a seat on the Board of Directors Athletes Unlimited continues to give us a voice in the organization in unprecedented ways and I’m honored to be the first to step into that role.”
Adams became the first former tennis player and first African American to serve as Chairman and President of the USTA when she was appointed in 2015. She also became the first USTA president to serve two consecutive terms.
Selected by other board members, Adams will serve as AU’s Independent Director.
“I am thrilled to join the Athletes Unlimited Board of Directors,” she said. “Being a decision maker in one of the most innovative companies, designed to inspire women to be their best selves in a competitive athletic environment is in my DNA. Working with Jon, Jonathan, Salil and Cassidy will allow me to expand my horizon and be even more impactful in this modern space.”
“We are honored to have two professional athletes like Cassidy and Katrina join our leadership team and proud that Athletes Unlimited is the first professional sports league to name an active player to its Board of Directors,” Patricof said. “Both have risen to the top of their game, stayed engaged in sports and are passionate about making their sports – and all sports – better for the next generation of athletes.”
Athletes Unlimited returns in 2022 with the inaugural basketball season beginning in late January.