Piano Prodigy Jude Kofie to Headline Project Harmony’s 30th Anniversary Gala
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United States Jennifer Azzi is an Olympic gold medalist and WNBA legend, known for her exceptional leadership as a point guard and her continued dedication to enhancing the sport of basketball.
Jennifer Azzi served as the Chief Business Development Officer, overseeing all business development for the WNBA Championship franchise from 2021-2025. This role leveraged her strategic vision and leadership in the continued growth of the team.
After her playing career, Jennifer Azzi served as the head coach of the USF women's basketball team from 2010-2016. She also held a position as an Associate Vice President of Development at the university between 2017 and 2021, showcasing her commitment to both athletics and academic institutional growth.
Jennifer Azzi has been an international ambassador and spokesperson for both the NBA and WNBA, traveling to various countries to promote the sport. Between 2017 and 2021, she specifically served as the Academy Global Director at the NBA, contributing to youth basketball development.
From 2019 to 2021, Jennifer Azzi worked as a Golden State Warriors analyst for NBC Sports, providing insights and commentary on NBA games.
Jennifer Azzi served on the Board of Directors for USA Basketball from 2005 to 2008, contributing to the governance and direction of the national basketball organization.
Jennifer Azzi is listed as the President of the IXs Foundation, an organization active in philanthropic efforts.
Jennifer Azzi was born on August 31, 1968, in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. She attended Stanford University on an athletic scholarship, where she studied economics and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1990. During her collegiate career at Stanford from 1986 to 1990, Azzi played as a point guard and contributed to the Cardinal achieving a 101–23 win–loss record, securing two Pac-10 titles. A significant milestone occurred in her senior year, 1990, when she led the Stanford Cardinal to the NCAA Women’s Division I Basketball Championship, earning the title of Most Outstanding Player in the tournament. In the same year, she was recognized with the Honda Sports Award, the Wade Trophy, and was named the Naismith College Player of the Year and the USBWA Women’s National Player of the Year.
Azzi began her professional basketball career in Europe, playing for teams in Italy, France, and Sweden. She later joined the San Jose Lasers of the American Basketball League (ABL) from 1996 to 1999, where she was also a co-founder of the league. Her WNBA career commenced in 1999 when she was drafted by the Detroit Shock as the fifth overall pick in the first round of the WNBA Draft. She played for the Detroit Shock in 1999, the Utah Starzz from 2000 to 2002, and the San Antonio Silver Stars in 2003, after the Utah Starzz relocated. Azzi consistently demonstrated high-level performance, leading the WNBA in three-point percentage in 1999 and 2001, and in free-throw percentage in 2000. She announced her retirement from professional basketball in February 2004.
Beyond her playing career, Azzi maintained an active role in basketball development and leadership. She served on the Board of Directors of USA Basketball from 2005 to 2008. In 2010, she transitioned into coaching, becoming the head coach of the women’s basketball team at the University of San Francisco until 2016. Under her leadership, the Dons achieved a significant upset in 2016, winning the WCC tournament championship and securing their first NCAA tournament appearance since the 1996–97 season. More recently, from 2021 to 2025, Azzi served as the Chief Business Development Officer for the Las Vegas Aces, overseeing business development for the WNBA Championship franchise. She was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009 for her outstanding contributions to the sport.
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