USA TODAY Announces 2026 Women of the Year

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03/02/2026 - 01:20 PM

Honorees include Angel City Football Club, Emma Bloomberg, Sarah Bond, Channing Dungey, Rachel Goldberg-Polin, Fei-Fei Li, Lainey Wilson and Peggy Winckowski

NEW YORK, NY--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- USA TODAY, part of USA TODAY Co., Inc. (NYSE: TDAY), announced the 2026 Women of the Year. These honorees embody strength, determination, and serve as industry disruptors and inspirational changemakers. Representing a wide spectrum of backgrounds, from technology to music, sports, entertainment, philanthropy, advocacy and more, these pioneers redefine what’s possible for women everywhere, setting powerful examples for future generations as we celebrate Women’s History Month in March.

Honorees are selected by editorial members of the USA TODAY team to recognize inspiring women who align with the mission to empower and enrich communities across the nation. The 2026 USA TODAY Women of the Year national honorees are:

Emma Bloomberg – With a background rooted in government and nonprofit sectors, Emma Bloomberg is the founder and CEO of Murmuration, a nonprofit technology company that empowers community-focused organizations to create more equitable outcomes by providing access to data, technology and research insights. Over 500 organizations across 26 states, often faced with fierce competition and limited resources, partner with Murmuration to better understand their communities, reach people more effectively, and strengthen democratic participation.
Sarah Bond – The former President of Xbox at Microsoft Gaming, Sarah Bond led strategy, marketing, product and partnerships for the Xbox brand. As one of the industry’s most influential executives, she has helped redefine success in gaming. From spearheading Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard to championing innovation and inclusion across the Xbox ecosystem, her impact resonates beyond the field of interactive entertainment.
Channing Dungey – Chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. Television Group and US Networks, Channing Dungey has reshaped modern television by expanding who gets to tell stories – and which stories get told. Her expertise in storytelling and production continues to dominate the television landscape, creating some of the most talked-about shows, including the Emmy-winning “The Pitt”, “The Bachelor” and “Ted Lasso.”
Rachel Goldberg-Polin – A humanitarian and advocate who became a prominent voice for families after her son, Hersh, was abducted by Hamas, Rachel Goldberg-Polin fought tirelessly for the hostages’ release, meeting with global leaders, speaking at major international events and appearing in global media. Originally from Chicago and living in Israel since 2008, her story has become one of resilience in the wake of unthinkable tragedy, and she now helps countless others cope with grief.
Fei-Fei Li, Ph.D. – Often referred to as the “Godmother of AI,” Fei-Fei Li is widely recognized for creating ImageNet and the ImageNet Challenge. She is the co-founder of World Labs, which just raised $1 billion in funding, and is Co-Director of the Stanford Human-Centered AI Institute. Her visionary leadership lies at the intersection of science, policy and social impact as she works to keep AI human focused.
Lainey Wilson – Lainey Wilson is one of country music’s most notable trailblazers, having reshaped the genre while utilizing her platform to uplift others. She has earned top honors at the Academy of Country Music Awards and cemented her legacy with her induction into the Grand Ole Opry. Beyond her music, Lainey founded the Heart Like A Truck Fund, reflecting her unwavering commitment to supporting impactful causes.
Peggy Winckowski – Affectionately called “Grandma Peggy,” Peggy Winckowski is a St. Louis native known for serving Wednesday breakfast to dozens of students from Bishop DuBourg High School. Named the “Wednesday Breakfast Club,” the idea was the brainchild of her grandson, Sam, who was tragically killed by a drunk driver at age 15. Nonetheless, the tradition he started has continued and, each week, Peggy cooks eight to ten pounds of bacon, four dozen eggs and more, providing a safe space for community and healing.
Angel City Football Club – Based in Los Angeles, California, Angel City Football Club (ACFC) is a prominent professional women’s soccer team. The franchise was co-founded by a powerhouse group of women including Academy Award-winning actress and activist Natalie Portman, venture capitalist Kara Nortman and media entrepreneur Julie Uhrman. When Willow Bay, Dean of the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, acquired a controlling stake in ACFC and oversight of the Board of Directors, the team became one of the highest valued women’s sports franchises. The club stands as a bold example of female empowerment and underscores the importance of investment in women’s sports.

“The impact of these extraordinary women is undeniable, and I’m endlessly inspired by the purpose, courage, and leadership of the USA TODAY’s 2026 Women of the Year honorees,” said Monica Richardson, Senior Vice President of USA TODAY. “Through the reach and storytelling power of USA TODAY, we are proud to elevate their voices and share their stories with communities across the country—because their work doesn’t just shape headlines, it changes lives.”

National honorees will be featured in USA TODAY’s print editions throughout the month and celebrated at an exclusive event hosted by Angel City Football Club at BMO Stadium on March 27, 2026.

To read the stories of the distinguished 2026 honorees, visit womenoftheyear.usatoday.com. USA TODAY Women of the year merchandise is available by visiting https://usatodaystore.com/usa-today-co/usa-today-collections/womens-history-month-collection/.

ABOUT USA TODAY

Since its introduction in 1982, USA TODAY has been a cornerstone of the national media landscape under its recognizable and respected brand. It also serves as the foundation for our newsroom network which allows for content sharing capabilities across our local and national markets. Through USA TODAY, we deliver high-quality, trusted content with a commitment to balanced, unbiased journalism, where and when consumers want to engage. Across our digital platforms we reach an audience of approximately 87 million unique visitors each month (based on December 2025 Comscore Media Metrix®).

ABOUT USA TODAY CO., INC.

USA TODAY Co., Inc. is a diversified media company with expansive reach at the national and local level dedicated to empowering and enriching communities. Our mission is to inspire, inform, and connect audiences. As a media and digital marketing solutions company we are focused on sustainable growth. Through our trusted brands, including the USA TODAY NETWORK, comprised of the national publication, USA TODAY, and our network of local properties, in the United States, and Newsquest, a wholly-owned subsidiary operating in the United Kingdom, we provide essential journalism, local content, and digital experiences to audiences and businesses. We deliver trusted unbiased journalism when and where consumers want it. LocaliQ, our digital marketing solutions brand, supports small and medium-sized businesses with innovative digital marketing products and solutions.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that relate to our current expectations and views of future events. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release, including statements relating to whether this initiative will enable USA TODAY Co. to increase sales or revenues, beliefs, intentions, estimates or strategies regarding the future, which may not be realized. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “believe,” “may,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “should,” “plan,” “expect,” “predict,” “potential,” “could,” “will,” “would,” “ongoing,” “future” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions that are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements are based largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, short-term and long-term business operations and objectives and financial needs. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, contingencies, changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially and/or significantly different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statement. For a discussion of some of the risks and important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations, see the risks and other factors detailed in “Item 3. Key Information - Risk Factors” in USA TODAY Co.’s (fka Gannett Co., Inc.) 2025 Annual Report on Form 10-K and USA TODAY Co.’s (fka Gannett Co., Inc.) quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and USA TODAY Co.’s (fka Gannett Co., Inc.) other filings with the SEC, in each case as such factors may be updated from time to time. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof and accordingly undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. USA TODAY Co. disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than to the extent required by applicable law.

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