Obama Presidential Center hosting WNBA summit ahead of all star game

Chicago is stepping into the national spotlight, hosting an assembly of icons and trailblazers at the Obama Presidential Center for the inaugural WNBA All-Star Media and Innovation Summit.

The summit celebrates three decades of the WNBA's transformative impact and how to help shape the next decade for women and girls in sports.

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The meeting examines the evolution of women's sports, while setting the stage for its next era of growth, influence and innovation.

From athlete ownership and artificial intelligence, to sports science, online safety, and the rapidly evolving media landscape, the summit explores the forces reshaping women's sports and the leaders driving what's next.

There will be a host of big names in sports taking the stage, including Seven-time WNBA All-Star and Olympic gold medalist Candace Parker, who got her roots playing at Naperville Central.

The co-owner and operating chairman of the Chicago Sky Nadia Rawlinson said Thursday's conversations will take women's sports to the next level.

"Chicago, as we know, has always been a city of big ideas and a city that understands the power of sports to bring people together. And today we have a chance of putting Chicago at the forefront of this important conversation about the future," Rawlinson said.

The conference hosts more events Friday before Saturday's All-Star game.