In Tampa, Florida, over 800 women gathered at Raymond James Stadium for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ first “She is Football Weekend” event. This special gathering featured inspiring talks from Buccaneers co-owner Darcie Glazer Kassewitz, NFL executive Dasha Smith, and other prominent female leaders from various fields. Attendees enjoyed a day filled with workshops, breakout sessions, and a live podcast recording with NFL reporters Erin Andrews and Charissa Thompson, along with a special interview with All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs.
This two-day event reflects the Buccaneers’ commitment to enhancing opportunities for women in football. It showcased female leaders in the community, celebrated girls who participate in flag football, and aimed to provide essential mentorship. Notably, Lori Locust and Maral Javadifar made history as the first female coaches to win a Super Bowl with the Buccaneers in 2020.
The Glazer family is focused on nurturing the next generation of female leaders through sports, with a mission to develop 50,000 female leaders each year. They aim to build on the success of their women’s programming and solidify their leadership role among female sports fans nationwide.
Glazer Kassewitz emphasized the importance of creating networking opportunities for women to empower each other, stating, “We want women to be able to connect and find community together.” She highlighted that women’s events are a long-standing initiative for the team and this particular event seeks to be a cornerstone of their commitment to the female community in Tampa Bay and beyond.
She also pointed out that many women in leadership roles have backgrounds in sports, underscoring the need to keep girls involved in sports as a pathway to leadership. A 5K run, a market festival with women-owned businesses, and guided tours of the training facility offered further engagement for participants.
Kourtney Sanchez, the Buccaneers’ chief impact officer, remarked on the longstanding dedication of the Glazer family to empowering women and encouraging young girls to become leaders.
In addition to the Buccaneers’ event, the NFL hosted its ninth annual Women’s Forum, aiming to foster inclusion within the league. Since its start in 2017, over 250 opportunities have arisen for women at various levels in football, with a record number of female coaches in the NFL last season.
Smith expressed her admiration for the collaboration among women from different backgrounds at the summit and looked forward to the impact these connections would have on football and the Tampa community.
Due to its success, the Buccaneers announced that the next “She is Football Weekend” will take place on March 6-7, 2026. Originally planned as a local event coinciding with International Women’s Day, it attracted women from across the nation who were eager to expand their networks and celebrate their passion for sports.
One participant, NFL Network reporter Sara Walsh, reflected on the invaluable insights gained from engaging with seasoned professionals, saying it opened new perspectives for aspiring female leaders.
