THE TEAM
WHO WE ARE
The founding team behind Sisters Sports Group blends C-suite experience, grassroots passion, and unstoppable drive. With deep ties to Philadelphia and national reach, these leaders bring expertise in law, business, sports management, advocacy, and entertainment
FOUNDING TEAM
The team behind Sisters Sports Group brings together executive-level leadership and deep community roots. From our founding team to our advisory board, we’re guided by change makers with powerful networks in sports, business, government, and media—all committed to building the future of women’s professional sports and as a result, sports entertainment at large.
Alexandra
Niedbalski-Sykes
PRESIDENT
Alex Niedbalski-Sykes is an international business executive and sports strategist whose career spans global sports marketing, corporate leadership, and advocacy for women’s professional sports. She is the co-founder and President of the Philadelphia Sisters, a group dedicated to elevating women’s sports in Philadelphia and beyond. Through her work with the Philadelphia Sisters, Alex has helped advance major women’s sports initiatives in the region, including contributing to Philadelphia’s successful Women's National Basketball Association expansion effort, helping bring Unrivaled Basketball to Philadelphia, and playing a key role in returning professional women’s tennis to the city through the WTA Philadelphia Tennis Classic, taking place August 22–29, 2026.
Born in Paris, Alex began her career in international sports marketing with the Women's Tennis Association and the Fédération Française de BasketBall, where she developed expertise in sponsorship, branding, marketing, and audience engagement during a transformative period for women’s professional sports. She later built a distinguished corporate career spanning more than two decades in international business development, sales, and communications leadership.
Alex spent 18 years at Polycor, where she rose from Sales Manager to Executive Vice President of Sales & Business Development, and later to Chief Public Relations & Public Affairs Officer. During her tenure, she helped scale the company from approximately $30 million in revenue to $700 million while leading strategic growth initiatives and international partnerships. Earlier in her career, she also served as Country Manager for the Levantina Group, overseeing operations across the United States, Spain, and Brazil.
Alex holds a Master’s degree in Sports Marketing and Branding from Institut Supérieur de Gestion and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from ISEG Paris Business School. She has also completed executive leadership studies at The Wharton School and business strategy studies at HEC Montréal. In 2023, she was elected to the NSI Board of Directors, recognizing her leadership across business, communications, and strategic development.
Ashley
Lunkenheimer
VICE PRESIDENT
A former federal prosecutor and senior counsel in both the public and private sectors, Ashley brings legal rigor and strategic insight to the team. With wide-reaching connections in Ashley K. Lunkenheimer is a distinguished attorney and public servant whose career spans federal prosecution, health care law and civic leadership. She serves as general counsel and chief compliance officer at Ennoble Care, prior to which she served as vice president and deputy general counsel at AmeriHealth Caritas. Previously, she dedicated nearly a decade as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, where she prosecuted a wide range of federal crimes. Lunkenheimer’s contributions earned her the 2024 Female Champion of Change POWER Advocate Award.
In addition to her legal career, Lunkenheimer serves as chair of the Delaware County Board of Elections and is a member of the Philly Sisters, a group dedicated to bringing women’s professional sports to Philadelphia. Through her work with The Philadelphia Sisters, she has helped advance major women’s sports initiatives in the region, including bringing Unrivaled to Philadelphia and contributing to the city’s successful Women's National Basketball Association expansion effort. Most recently, she and the Sisters played a key role in bringing professional women’s tennis back to the city through the Philadelphia Tennis Classic, taking place August 22–29.
Lunkenheimer holds a bachelor’s degree from Amherst College, a Master of Social Work from Columbia University, and a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania, where she was a member of the Law Review, a finalist in the prestigious Keedy Cup, and graduated magna cum laude. A standout athlete, she was twice named a women’s rugby Division I Club All-American and served as the first-ever captain of the U.S. Women’s Under-23 National Rugby Team.government, corporate leadership, and community spaces, she’s a bridge between advocacy and execution.
Wanda Sykes
PARTNER
Emmy-winning producer, comedian, and activist, Wanda brings star power and heart to the founding team. With deep connections in media and entertainment, she helps open doors and amplify the movement
STARLA CRANDALL
PARTNER
A visionary business leader at a top global consulting firm, Starla leads our efforts in marketing, partnerships, and advisory board development. She brings structure to ambition and helps translate vision into visible impact.
