Val Ackerman | |
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1st President of the Women's National Basketball Association | |
In office 1996–2005 | |
Preceded by | position established |
Succeeded by | Donna Orender |
Personal details | |
Born | Lakewood Township, New Jersey, U.S. | November 7, 1959
Spouse | Charles Rappaport |
Children | 2 |
Education | University of Virginia (BA) University of California, Los Angeles (JD) |
Occupation | Sports Executive |
Valerie B. Ackerman (born November 7, 1959) is an American sports executive, former lawyer, and former basketball player. She is the current commissioner of the Big East Conference. She is best known for being the first president of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), serving from 1996 to 2005.[1] She was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011 and the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021.