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Minnesota native Tony Sanneh is one of the most accomplished soccer players to come out of the state. He is the all-time leading scorer and was Second Team All-American at the University of Milwaukee and played professionally for over 15 years. Tony made his debut for the United States National Team in 1997 and became an important part of the U.S. Team at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

Minnesota native Rachel Banham scored 3,093 points in her college career at the University of Minnesota, leaving the college game as the No. 1 scorer in Big Ten history and sixth in NCAA history. She was the 2016 Big Ten Player of the Year and made 354 threes during her career, a program record. She is arguably most known for her then-NCAA record 60-point performance against Northwestern in 2016, a year that ended with her earning a First Team All-American nod.

A two-time FIFA Player of the Year Award winner and one of the greatest soccer players to ever play the game, Carli Lloyd became a broadcaster less than two years after retiring from the game as one of the all-time legends in U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) history.

Mike Conley played high school basketball in Indiana, where he was selected to the McDonald’s All American Team and named to the Parade All-American Third Team. Conley played collegiately for one season at Ohio State, where he was named First Team All-Big Ten.

The 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist in gymnastics has built an incredible post-gymnastics career since retiring from the sport. Shawn is a New York Times Best Selling author, speaker, brand builder, and philanthropist. She created TheBodyDepartment.com, a site dedicated to offering an outlet where people can talk about body image, wellness, and fitness in a healthy way. She’s currently operating an online digital content and consulting agency.

Ali Krieger appeared in more than 100 games (as a right back and a center back) with the U.S. women’s national team. She made her national team debut in 2008 and has played for the U.S. at three FIFA World Cups (2011, 2015 and 2019). She played all 600 minutes in the 2011 tournament, when the U.S. lost in the final to Japan, and she played all but 10 minutes in the 2015 World Cup, when Team USA won the tournament. She was an alternate on the team that won gold at the 2008 Summer Olympics and was a member of the 2016 Summer Games team.

Cory Wong is a Grammy Nominated guitarist, producer, variety show host, and podcast host. In addition to his skyrocketing solo career, he is also a member of Vulfpeck & Fearless Flyers.

Barbara Joers leads Gillette Children’s with a dedication to advancing pediatric care and a commitment to empowering young patients and their families. Her extensive experience in managing complex medical environments is matched by her passion for strategic innovation and collaborative success. Under her guidance, Gillette Children’s focuses on groundbreaking advancements in musculoskeletal and neurological care, with a model that emphasizes patient-centered support and continuous process improvement. Barbara’s leadership fosters an environment where children receive not only medical care but a foundation for thriving futures.

Todd M. Johnson is a seasoned public policy and government relations expert with over two decades of experience spanning healthcare, environmental regulation, and economic development. As Executive Director of the National Sports Center and the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission, Todd is committed to enhancing community access to sports and physical activity. His career also includes significant roles, such as Legislative Director for the Minnesota Department of Health, faculty at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, and Vice President of Government Relations at Allina Health. Todd holds a BA in Government & International Relations from Hamline University and a Master’s in Public Health from the University of Minnesota, with additional studies at Oxford University.