Women Raise The Game: CHAMPIONS Super Bowl Celebration Honored Women Making an Impact in Sports, Media and Entertainment

Featured Honorees included NFL Ambassador Diana Flores; Julie Young, Mother of NFL Quarterback Bryce Young; Former House DJ for the Los Angeles Chargers, Esther Anaya; and more

On Wednesday, February 4th, 2026, Women Raise The Game’s CHAMPIONS Super Bowl Celebration returned for its third year, honoring women who are breaking barriers in sports, media, and entertainment. This year’s event took place at The Proper Hotel in San Francisco, and honorees included athletes and creators shaping the future of sports.

NFL Global Ambassador and 2X World Games Champion, Diana Flores, was presented with the Woman of the Year award. Flores’ journey with flag football began as a child, and she went on to compete at the highest level — serving as the captain and quarterback for Mexico’s gold medal-winning Women’s Flag Football National Team. This honor came just as the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics announced flag football would be included as a medal sport for the first time in Olympic history. Flores was presented the award by Kamal Bhandal, Senior Vice President of Brand and Americas Marketing at Align Technologies, whose Invisalign brand has made long-term investments in confidence, performance, and visibility in sports.

 

 

“When women rise, we don’t just play the game — we change it. And we make space for the next generation to rise with us. This recognition is about more than me; it’s about what’s possible when women are supported, visible, and confident,” said Diana Flores.

Each year, Women Raise the Game has allowed male athletes to honor the women in their lives who helped make their dreams possible. This year, NFL Quarterback Bryce Young presented his mother, Julie Young, with the Legacy Award for her support of his career. Julie Young spoke to attendees about her own journey as a college athlete, giving her the understanding of what it means to raise a professional athlete. She discussed her pride as a mother for Bryce’s career, both on and off the field, through their organization, the Young 9 Foundation’s work.

The CHAMPIONS celebration prides itself on bringing together an elite gathering of women who are breaking barriers in their careers. This year, Women Raise the Game also honored creators, including:

• Esther Anaya, House DJ for the Los Angeles Rams, received the Entertainment Creator of the Year award presented by Carron Joan Mitchell, Partner at Nixon Peabody LLC

 

• Inés Sainz, a sports journalist, received the Media Impact Award

 

• Monica Veloz, lifestyle & digital creator, received the Content Creator of the Year Award

 

• Brittney Elena, Creator, TV host, model/actress, received the Beauty Creator of the Year Award

 

The event’s sounds were curated by DJ Umami, and Pili Montilla served as the Program Host & Emcee for the evening.

“The women we honored represent where sports are headed. The NFL’s investment in women’s flag football reflects what many have known for years: women are driving the future of the game. This celebration recognized the leaders, creators, and competitors already shaping that next chapter,” said Tish Galindo, Founder of made X us and of Women Raise the Game.

The Women Raise The Game CHAMPIONS celebration is a marquee Super Bowl week event. The program is presented by Invisalign®, with support from madeXus, Mielle Organics, Nixon Peabody LLP, and Kindli Functional Beverage.

About Women Raise the Game
Women Raise The Game is a media platform dedicated to celebrating and elevating women, creators, and athletes who are driving culture forward and redefining leadership within sports and entertainment.

About madeXus
madeXus is a culture-driven creative agency delivering brand strategy, creative, content, and experiential work across sports, entertainment, and modern media. The agency helps brands win attention by converting cultural insight into scalable creative platforms, campaigns, and content designed to perform across channels and in real-world environments.

About Align Technology, Inc. (Invisalign®)

Align Technology designs and manufactures the Invisalign® system, the most advanced clear aligner system in the world, and iTero® intraoral scanners and services. Align’s products help dental professionals achieve the clinical results they expect and deliver effective, cutting-edge dental options to their patients. In 2019, Invisalign® became the official smile of the New England Patriots NFL football team. For more information, visit www.invisalign.com.