California football star Brianna Barrett among athletes to be celebrated at inaugural Women Who Win Awards
Nevin Barich
Host · Writer
California women's tackle football standout Brianna Barrett will be among an international gathering of accomplished female athletes and influential sports figures participating in the inaugural “VEON: Women Who Win” awards show on Nov. 16 in New York City.
Barrett, a Most Valuable Player (MVP) representing the Women's Football Alliance (WFA), will join some of the biggest names in women's sports at the invitation-only event, presented by the All Women's Sports Network (AWSN) in partnership with global digital operator VEON.
The ceremony, taking place at Cipriani South Street in Manhattan, will recognize achievements, leadership and inspiration in women's athletics. It will be televised live internationally on AWSN, with distribution spanning more than 60 countries.
Barrett's inclusion brings additional recognition to women's tackle football, a sport that continues to seek greater mainstream visibility and opportunities for its athletes. Her participation alongside Olympic champions and internationally recognized competitors underscores the growing diversity of women's sports being celebrated on a global stage.
The WFA, which features women's tackle football teams across the United States, has helped provide a competitive platform for female athletes pursuing the sport. Barrett's recognition at the event represents another opportunity to showcase women's football to an international audience.
Among the other athletes scheduled to participate are tennis star Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion; Claressa Shields, a two-time Olympic boxing gold medalist and undisputed professional world champion across multiple weight divisions; and Sana Mir, the former Pakistani cricket captain and International Cricket Council Hall of Fame inductee.
Also participating will be Ganna Rizatdinova, the Ukrainian rhythmic gymnast who won a bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and earned multiple medals at the World Championships.
Academy Award-winning entertainer Whoopi Goldberg, who co-founded AWSN with Jungo TV, will also attend the celebration. Goldberg, one of the few performers to achieve EGOT status by winning Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards, has been a prominent advocate for increasing the visibility of women's sports.
The awards show will feature four categories: Global Sporting Excellence Award, Trailblazer Award, Champion of Champions Award and Next Generation Inspiration Award. The organizers have not specified which awards individual athletes will receive.
The event also coincides with VEON's 30th anniversary, bringing together representatives from sports, entertainment, technology and international business.
