Donna Orender

{{Short description|American sports executive and former basketball player}}

{{Infobox officeholder

|name =Donna Geils Orender

|image = Orender, Donna (2007).jpg

|caption = Donna Orender (center) in 2007

|office = 2nd President of the WNBA

|order =

|term_start = February 15, 2005

|term_end = December 3, 2010

|predecessor = Val Ackerman

|successor = Laurel J. Richie

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1957|2|14}}

|birth_place =Long Island, New York

|other_names =

|known_for =collegiate and professional basketball player; senior vice president of the PGA; president of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)

|occupation =

|spouse = M.G. Orender

|children = 4

|alma_mater = Queens College, City University of New York
Adelphi University

| module =

{{Infobox basketball biography

| embed = y

| height_ft = 5

| height_in = 7

| high_school = Elmont
(Elmont, New York)

| college = Queens (1974–1978)

| career_start =

| career_end =

| career_position = Point guard

| years1 = 1978–1979

| team1 = New York Stars

| years2 = 1979–1980

| team2 = New Jersey Gems

| years3 = 1980–1981

| team3 = Chicago Hustle

| cyears1 = 1979

| cteam1 = New York Stars

| highlights =

As player:

WBL All-Star (1980)

| medaltemplates =

}}

Donna Geils Orender (born February 14, 1957){{Cite web |url=https://www.floridaresidents.directory/person/103400886/donna-orender |title=Donna Orender DOB: February 14, 1957 - Jacksonville Beach 32250 - Florida Resident Database |access-date=April 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180428093519/https://www.floridaresidents.directory/person/103400886/donna-orender |archive-date=April 28, 2018 |url-status=dead }} is a sports executive and a former collegiate and professional basketball player. She was formerly president of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), and senior vice president of the PGA. She played college basketball for Queens College in New York and later professionally in the Women's Professional Basketball League, the first women's pro league in the United States, for three seasons.

Early life

Orender was born in Long Island, New York, grew up in Queens, New York, and in Elmont, New York on Long Island, and is Jewish.[http://www.jewishsports.net/BioPages/Donna-Geils-Orender.htm Donna Geils Orender][https://www.newsday.com/sports/on-top-by-staying-on-ball-1.532611 On top by staying on ball {{!}} Newsday][https://books.google.com/books?id=SbVGCgAAQBAJ&dq=Donna+Orender+basketball+queens+grew+up&pg=PT184 The Jewish Olympics: The History of the Maccabiah Games – Ron Kaplan][https://books.google.com/books?id=ysVrxa25lM4C&dq=Donna+Orender+basketball+queens+grew+up&pg=PA93 The Leaderboard: Conversations on Golf and Life – Amy Alcott] She belonged to a Conservative synagogue (the Elmont Jewish Center).[https://books.google.com/books?id=SbVGCgAAQBAJ&dq=donna+orender+maccabiah&pg=PT184 The Jewish Olympics: The History of the Maccabiah Games – Ron Kaplan]{{cite web|date=August 14, 2014|url=http://www.jta.org/2014/08/14/arts-entertainment/for-ex-wnba-chief-donna-orender-nba-breakthrough-for-women-a-show-of-respect|title=For ex-WNBA chief Donna Orender, NBA breakthrough for women a show of respect|work=Jewish Telegraphic Agency|access-date=}}{{cite web|url=http://www.wnba.com/about_us/donna_orender.html|title=WNBA.com: Donna Orender|work=wnba.com|access-date=}} She attended and played basketball for Elmont High School, in Elmont, New York, and was a five-sport athlete in high school, also lettering in field hockey, volleyball, softball, and tennis.[http://wlcj.org/2016/04/what-makes-donna-run-and-jump-shoot-and-putt/ What Makes Donna Run… and Jump, Shoot and Putt? {{!}} Women's League for Conservative Judaism – Jewish Women's Group] According to Orender, Elmont High School did not have a girls’ tennis team while she was attending, so she asked the coach to play for the boys’ team. The coach agreed to let her try out for the team, and in doing so she beat her opponent and became the first girl to play tennis for the high school, which gained little attention to her surprise.

Playing career

= College years =

Orender turned down an academic scholarship to the University of Chicago to instead attend Queens College in New York City, New York to play basketball for Lucille Kyvallos. Queens College was invited to play Immaculata at Madison Square Garden on February 22, 1975. The matchup was the first ever college women's basketball game in the arena.{{Cite web|url=https://queensknights.com/news/2019/1/15/coach-lucille-kyvallos-named-finalist-for-2019-class-of-womens-basketball-hall-of-fame.aspx|title=Coach Lucille Kyvallos Named Finalist for 2019 Class of Women's Basketball Hall of Fame|website=Queens College|language=en|access-date=2019-05-06}} Orender graduated from Queens College in 1978 with a bachelor's degree in psychology.{{Cite web|url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnaorender/|title=Donna Orender|last=|first=|date=May 6, 2019|website=LinkedIn|access-date=}}{{Cite web|url=https://queensknights.com/sports/2018/12/19/Alumni-hof-Inductees.aspx|title=Queens College Athletics Hall of Fame Inductees|website=Queens College|language=en|access-date=2019-05-06}} While at Queens College she was an All-American basketball player. In 2012 Orender was inducted into the Queens College Athletics Hall of Fame.

After graduating from Queens College, Orender attended Adelphi University to pursue her master's degree in social work. She dropped out of the program after one year to play professional basketball for the Women's Pro Basketball League (WBL). Adelphi University presented Orender with an honorary doctor of law degree in 2007.{{Cite web|url=https://events.adelphi.edu/au_news/wnba-president-donna-orender/|title=WNBA President Donna Orender to Receive Honorary Degree from Adelphi University|website=events.adelphi.edu|date=May 4, 2007 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-06}}

=Professional career=

Under the name Donna Geils, Orender played three seasons in the Women's Pro Basketball League (WBL), where she was an All-Star, and one of only 20 women to play in all three seasons of the league. During that time, she played for the New York Stars (1978–79), New Jersey Gems (1979–80), and Chicago Hustle (1980–81).{{cite web | author=Geils, Donna Chait | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/11/15/sports/making-a-dream-come-true-and-watching-it-fade-away.html | title=MAKING A DREAM COME TRUE, AND WATCHING IT FADE AWAY | work=The New York Times | date=November 15, 1981 | access-date=July 30, 2010}} During her second season, she averaged a career hight 18.8 points and 4.5 assists and was named to the All-Star team. Orender's WBL career is featured in the book Mad Seasons: The Story of the First Women's Basketball League, 1978–1981, by Karra Porter (University of Nebraska Press, 2006). The WBL was disbanded in 1981.

Orender still holds two records for most field goals made, and is currently ranked 34th with 249 field goals made in the 1979–1980 season and ranked 7th for most turnovers in a single season, with 191 also in the 1979–1980 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wnba.com/archive/wnba/shock/history/wnbaablwbl_season_fg.html|title=SHOCK: WNBA-ABL-WBL Single-Season Records: Made Field Goals|website=www.wnba.com|access-date=2019-05-06}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.wnba.com/archive/wnba/shock/history/wnbaablwbl_season_to.html|title=SHOCK: WNBA-ABL-WBL Single-Season Records: Turnovers|website=www.wnba.com|access-date=2019-05-06}} Both records were set as a part of the New Jersey Gems. When the league shutdown in 1981, Orender wrote an article for The Times called "Making a Dream Come True, and Watching it Fade Away."

=National team career=

In 1985, she was the captain of the United States national team at the 1985 Maccabiah Games in Israel.{{Cite web|url=https://www.maccabiusa.com/about/legends/donna-orender/|title="Donna Orender" {{!}} Maccabi USA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019023401/https://www.maccabiusa.com/about/legends/donna-orender/|archive-date=October 19, 2017|url-status=dead|access-date=February 26, 2018|df=mdy-all}}

Later life

= Television production (1981–1987) =

Orender's television production career began as a production assistant at ABC Sports and continued at the Sports Channel. Orender also owned her own production and marketing company, Primo Donna Productions.{{Cite web|url=https://www.si.com/vault/2000/12/04/293066/power-player-the-tours-donna-orender-didnt-make-herself-the-most-important-woman-in-golf-by-being-a-pushover|title=Power Player The Tour's Donna Orender didn't make herself the most important woman in golf by being a pushover|last=Yen|first=Yi-Wyn|website=Vault|language=en|access-date=2019-05-05}}

= Professional Golfer's Association (PGA) Tour (1987–2005) =

In 1987, Orender started working for the PGA Tour, where she oversaw their global television and production businesses. By 1989, she was the original producer of Inside the PGA Tour, a half-hour highlights show. In 1997 she negotiated a $400 million TV contract with the networks for the PGA Tour. In 2001, she became the senior vice president of strategic development in the Office of the Commissioner. Orender spent 17 years with the PGA.

= Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) (2005–2011) =

In February 2005, Orender was named the new WNBA president, succeeding Val Ackerman. Her responsibilities included the oversight of all league operations including both the business and competitive aspects of the league. During her tenure, she negotiated an eight-year contract extension with Disney/ABC/ESPN which, for the first time, included broadcast rights fees and a six-year Collective Bargaining agreement. On December 3, 2010, it was announced that Orender would be stepping down from her post effective December 31, 2010. NBA Vice President Chris Granger was tabbed to replace her on an interim basis until Laurel Richie was the named the new president.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wnba.com/archive/wnba/about_us/wnba_history_timeline_2012_04_30.html|title=WNBA.com: WNBA History/Timeline|website=www.wnba.com|access-date=2019-05-05}}

During her time with the organization Orender notes attendance growth, development on ESPN, and broadcast development are all highlights that she is proud to have played a role in.{{Cite web|url=https://athlonsports.com/columns/athlon-interview/athlon-interview-outgoing-wnba-president-donna-orende|title=Athlon Interview|date=2010-09-02|website=AthlonSports.com|language=en|access-date=2019-05-04}} In an interview with Jackson Daily Record Orender discusses her decision to step down as president was in part due to her twin sons. She wanted to be around for them as they were growing up, and as they needed her more.{{Cite web|url=https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/first-coast-success-donna-orender-connects-reach-her-goals|title=First Coast Success: Donna Orender connects to reach her goals {{!}} Jax Daily Record|date=2015-02-23|website=Financial News & Daily Record - Jacksonville, Florida|language=en|access-date=2019-05-06}}

= UPSHOT League (2026) =

She is set to be the inaugural commissioner of the UPSHOT League, a new developmental women's professional basketball league in the United States, set to have its debut season in May 2026.{{Cite web |last= |title=Professional Women's Development Basketball Team Coming to Charlotte, as part of New 'UPSHOT League' {{!}} Upshot League |url=https://theupshotleague.com/professional-womens-development-basketball-team-coming-to-charlotte-as-part-of-new-upshot-league/ |access-date=2025-05-04 |language=en-US}}

= Advocacy and entrepreneurship (Since 2011) =

== Generation W ==

In 2011, Orender registered and launched a 501c3, non-profit organization called Generation W. This non-profit organization is used to provide a platform to bring women together to educate, inspire, and connect through mentor-ship and national events. Orender became the CEO of Generation W when it was founded in 2011.{{Cite web|url=https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/first-coast-success-donna-orender-connects-reach-her-goals|title=First Coast Success: Donna Orender connects to reach her goals {{!}} Jax Daily Record|date=2015-02-23|website=Financial News & Daily Record - Jacksonville, Florida|language=en|access-date=2019-05-05}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.genwnow.com/about-us-2/|title=About Us – Generation W|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-05}} Generation W is Orender's proudest professional accomplishment.{{Cite web|url=http://wlcj.org/2016/04/what-makes-donna-run-and-jump-shoot-and-putt/|title=What Makes Donna Run… and Jump, Shoot and Putt?|date=April 9, 2016 |language=en|access-date=2019-05-06}}

== Orender Unlimited, LLC. ==

In the same year, Orender also launched Orender Unlmited, a consulting and advisory firm based in Jacksonville, Florida. This organization focuses on marketing, media, and diversity strategies for its clientele. She has been the CEO since it launched in 2011.{{Cite web|url=http://orenderunlimited.com/about-us/about-donna/|title=About Donna – Orender Unlimited|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-05}}

Through both of her organizations, Orender has been invited to be the keynote and motivational speaker for many events around the nation. She has also been a global ambassador for Vital Voices, traveling to India to help mentor young women entrepreneurs. In 2016, she gave a TEDx Talk presentation in Jacksonville, FL.{{Citation|title=Fear NOT the Ask {{!}} Donna Orender {{!}} TEDxJacksonville|date=2016-11-29|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Slf-D9Xo2w|access-date=2019-05-05}} In July 2018, Orender published a book titled WOWsdom! The Girl's Guide to the Positive and the Possible (Mascot Books, July 10, 2018).

Donna Orender has been appointed and elected to serve on several organizations' executive board committees:

Monique Burr Foundation for Children (board member)
V Foundation for Cancer Research (board member)
United Jewish Appeal (UJA) Sports for Youth Initiative (co-chair)
Brooks College of Health at the University of North Florida (advisory board)
DeVos Graduate Sports Business Management program at the University of Central Florida (advisory board)
World Surfing League (WSL) (founding board member, 2013)

Personal life

In 1990, Orender moved from New York to Jacksonville Beach, Florida, where she resides with her husband.{{Cite web|url=https://www.maccabiusa.com/about/legends/donna-orender/|title="Donna Orender" – Maccabi USA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019023401/https://www.maccabiusa.com/about/legends/donna-orender/|archive-date=October 19, 2017|url-status=dead|access-date=February 26, 2018|df=mdy-all}} She is a member of the Jacksonville Jewish Center. She is a member of Sigma Gamma Rho.{{Cite web|url=https://www.watchtheyard.com/sgrhos/donna-orender-wnba-sgrho/|title=Former President of The WNBA Donna Orender Just Became A Member of Sigma Gamma Rho|date=2018-12-19|website=Watch The Yard|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-08}}

Orender met her future husband Carnace (MG) Orender while both were working for PGA of America. MG has held several professional roles in the golf community such as president of Hamilton Golf, Inc. and many positions within the PGA America organization including PGA President from 2003 – 2004.{{Cite web|url=https://www.golfchannel.com/article/pgacom-news-services/orender-elected-president-pga|title=Orender Elected President of PGA|date=November 5, 2002|website=Golf Channel|language=en|access-date=2019-05-06}} The two were married in 1994 and have two children together, twin brothers Jacob and Zachary. Jacob is a guard for the California Golden Bears basketball team.{{Cite web|url=http://calbears.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=13324|title=Jacob Orender - Men's Basketball|website=University of California Golden Bears Athletics|language=en|access-date=2019-05-06}} Zachary is completing his bachelor's degree at Tulane University.{{Cite web|url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachary-orender-31a092101/|title=Zachary Orender|last=|first=|date=May 6, 2019|website=LinkedIn|access-date=}} During her time as president of the WNBA, Orender lived and worked in New York, while her husband stayed in Jacksonville with the couple's children.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/14/sports/basketball/wnba-executive-has-hard-sell-on-hands.html|title=W.N.B.A. Executive Has Hard Sell on Hands|last=Robbins|first=Liz|date=2005-09-14|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-05-06|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}

From her marriage, Orender is also mother to two stepchildren, Morgan and Colleen Orender. Morgan is an associate attorney practicing law in Jacksonville, Florida, and Colleen is a singer based in Nashville, Tennessee.{{Cite web|url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/morgan-orender-9611704a/|title=Morgan Orender|last=|first=|date=May 6, 2019|website=LinkedIn|access-date=}}{{Cite web|url=http://colleenorender.com/|title=Colleen Orender {{!}} Singer Songwriter {{!}} Nashville, TN|website=Colleen Orender|language=en|access-date=2019-05-06}}

Orender is friends with Ann Meyers Drysdale, whom she met in 1979 while playing in the WBL. The two played together for the New Jersey Gems.

Honors and awards

Fox Sports Network ranked Donna Orender in the top ten most powerful women in sports (2005)
Sporting News's annual "Power List" in 2005{{Cite web|url=http://iousports.org/blog-news/10-most-powerful-women-sports|title=Recent Blog & News Items {{!}} Images of Us Sports|website=iousports.org|access-date=2019-05-06}}
Inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame (2006) {{cite web|url=http://www.jewishsports.org/jewishsports/detail.asp?sp%3D185 |title=Jewish Sports Hall of Fame |access-date=2015-02-16 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911101822/http://www.jewishsports.org/jewishsports/detail.asp?sp=185 |archive-date=September 11, 2014 |df=mdy }}
March of Dimes Sports Leadership Award (2006){{Cite web|url=https://www.marchofdimes.org/news/march-of-dimes-new-york-chapter-honors-andre-agassi-and-danica-patrick.aspx|title=March of Dimes New York Chapter Honors Andre Agassi and Danica Patrick {{!}} March of Dimes|website=www.marchofdimes.org|access-date=2019-05-05}}
Women in Sports and Events (WISE) Woman of the Year Award (2007){{Cite web|url=https://www.wiseworks.org/wwoy-honorees-2007|title=2007|website=WISE|language=en|access-date=2019-05-05}}
Queens College Athletics Hall of Fame (2012)
Elected to the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame (2015){{cite news|url=http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/73382/late-s.f.-boxing-champ-to-be-enshrined/|title=Late S.F. boxing champ to be enshrined|work=Jweekly|date=December 2, 2014 }}
Business Week's Power 100 Sports issue{{Cite web|url=https://pressreleases.uccs.edu/?p=1412|title=Former WNBA president Donna Orender to speak at UCCS on "Leading with Ethics"|date=2013-04-05|website=UCCS Press Releases|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-06}}
Honored by the UJA-Federation of New York's Entertainment, Media and Communications Division
Youth for Sports, Chair
Entertainment, Media & Communications Division Executive Committee, Vice Chair{{Cite web|url=http://www.ujafedny.org/get-involved/find-your-place/entertainment-media/|title=Entertainment & Media|website=UJA-Federation of New York|access-date=2019-05-06}}
Newsweek 100 Most Influential People in Sports{{Cite web|url=https://www.ey.com/br/pt/about-us/our-sponsorships-and-programs/women-athletes-global-leadership-network---qanda---donna-orender|title=How Donna Orender made women's sport a mission|last=|first=|date=May 6, 2019|website=Ernst & Young Global Limited|access-date=}}

Writing

During an interview in 2011 with Athlon Sports following her announcement that she would be stepping down as President of the WNBA, Orender mentioned writing a book among her professional goals.{{Cite web|url=https://athlonsports.com/columns/athlon-interview/athlon-interview-outgoing-wnba-president-donna-orende|title=Athlon Interview|date=2010-09-02|website=AthlonSports.com|language=en|access-date=2019-05-06}} Orender has several writing credits to her name:

My Dad and Me by Larry King, contributor
WOWsdom! The Girl's Guide to the Positive and the Possible, author
Barnstorming America Stories from the Pioneers of Women's Basketball, co-author
The Leaderboard: Conversations on Golf and Life, contributor
Articles published with Sports Illustrated, Street and Smith's Sports Business Journal, and The Times