Michele Roberts became the first woman to head a major sports union Tuesday after being voted in as executive director of the NBA Players Association.
“After all the hours and time (put in by) our executive committee, along with an amazing search committee that helped throughout this process, it’s an unbelievable feeling to have the wonderful Michele Roberts now as a part of our team,” NBPA president and Clippers star Chris Paul said.
The Washington trial lawyer, who was known as a top litigator at her firm, received 32 out of 36 votes beating out Mavericks CEO Terdema Ussery and Information Technology Industry Council CEO Dean Garfield. She will replace Billy Hunter, who was fired from the position in February 2013.
“They’ve got their union back, and I’m going to make sure that they are empowered to take their union exactly where they want their union to go, said Roberts. “We are going to have a team, a very strong team, what I call a team of gladiators, that’s going to help these men and women go in the direction they choose to go. It’s a new day,” she added.
Move over Olivia Pope, looks like there’s a new boss in town!