Podcast Summary

Welcome to the Party
Episode: She Walked Into the NBA’s Biggest Mess and Fixed It
Date: March 26, 2026
Hosts: Julie Foudy, Abby Wambach, Billie Jean King
Guest: Cynthia “Cynt” Marshall

Episode Overview

This episode celebrates Women's History Month with a deep-dive into leadership, authenticity, and trailblazing change in both sports and society, anchored by a compelling interview with Cynthia “Cynt” Marshall. Marshall, celebrated as the first Black female CEO in the NBA, shares her transformative experience leading the Dallas Mavericks through crisis and reshaping an NBA workplace from the inside out. The show also highlights the movement to better represent women—in statues, in history, and in sports—alongside spirited March Madness recaps and community shoutouts.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Women’s Sports, March Madness & Mental Health (01:38–16:06)

• March Madness Recap

  • Celebration of women’s basketball and bracket updates (08:07).
  • Notable improvement in the visibility and quality of women’s tournament upsets (12:22):
    • “Virginia. Can we just talk about them crashing this party? Double digit seed, full Cinderella energy…” – Julie Foudy [12:21]
  • Standout athletes like Lauren Betts discussed for both on-court performance and off-the-court candor about mental health (03:53).

• On Mental Health Openness in Sports

  • Lauren Betts’ Players Tribune article and the significance of athletes discussing mental health publicly.
    • “I don’t want to use the word brave... what she did was strong, and what she did was with intention.” – Abby Wambach [03:45]
    • “There is to me, no greater strength in a person to just be themselves right now in this day and age…” – Abby Wambach [04:25]

• On Seeking Help

  • Connection to “Save the Katie Meyer Story” Emmy nomination, reinforcing how structural change (Katie’s Law) stems from personal vulnerability and advocacy (06:12–07:48).

2. Women’s Representation & The Power of Monuments (21:05–35:08)

• Women’s Stories in History and Statues

  • Underrepresentation of women in history curricula (24:00) and public monuments, such as there being more mermaid statues than those of U.S. congresswomen (31:41).
    • “The story of the United States as told by its monuments misrepresents our history.” – Julie Foudy [31:16]
    • “The ratio of statues depicting mermaids to those of US congresswomen is 22 to two.” [31:41]

• If/Then She Can Exhibit

  • Lida Hill Philanthropies’ initiative to create 120 life-size statues of contemporary female STEM role models and a STEM-in-sports installation for the FIFA World Cup (32:02).
    • “They created the if then she can exhibit… the largest collection of statues of real women ever assembled…” – Julie Foudy [32:41]

• STEM & Sports Connection

  • Women’s participation in sports linked to greater STEM success; introducing tangible role models to inspire young girls (43:36–44:06).

3. Cynt Marshall: The Mavericks Story (42:03–75:36)

A. Early Career & Authenticity at AT&T

• Story of Staying True to Herself

  • Promotion moment at AT&T—offered officer position on the condition she change her appearance and personality. She initially declines to avoid compromising on authenticity until the chairman calls to reinforce her value as “Sent.”
    • “The power of a leader. Words matter. That man set me loose. He set me to be Sent.” – Cynt Marshall [49:20]

• Lessons on Authenticity

  • How her upbringing and her mother’s advice to “know who you are and whose you are” enabled her to stand firm.
    • “There’s some things you don’t have to do. You never have to compromise.” – Cynt Marshall [50:46]

B. Taking Over the Dallas Mavericks

• How It Happened

  • Mark Cuban reached out after a major sexual harassment scandal (54:57). Cynt’s husband and son recognize the opportunity; she ultimately decides to take the meeting, led by her drive to have “impact” (59:40–61:18).

• First Impressions and Commitment

  • Real talk and transparency with Mark Cuban; her decision sealed after hearing directly from Mavericks’ women employees about their experiences and need for change (62:13).
    • “We just ended up bonding and got on a mission.” – Cynt Marshall [64:37]

• Immediate Culture Change and 100-Day Plan

  • Laid out a vision: “We would set the NBA standard, the global standard for diversity and inclusion.” [64:37]
  • Instituted “every voice matters and everybody belongs” workplace promise.
  • Crafts framework: character, respect, authenticity, fairness, teamwork, safety (physical & emotional).

• One-on-One Leadership

  • Personally met every employee; fostered deep personal connections.
    • “My job as a leader is to meet them where they are and to understand all of that.” [77:14]

• On Mark Cuban’s Leadership

  • He gave her autonomy, supported her rapid learning of the NBA business, and worked together on restoring trust and values (68:00).

• Results

  • Organization’s reputation and valuation rebounded; Mavericks became an NBA leader in workplace inclusion.

C. The “Hasu” Philosophy (Hook A Sister Up)

• Building Sisterhood
  • Encourages all women to adopt “hasu”—hook a sister up—as an unconditional, supportive commitment (73:34).
    • “When you tell me it’s a hasu moment, the answer is yes.” – Cynthia Marshall [74:00]

Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Representation
  “If you can see it, then you can be it.” – Julie Foudy, referencing Rosie Rios and Lida Hill exhibits [29:44, 32:41]
• On Authenticity in Leadership
  “He set me to be sent. And so he gave me permission to meet my authentic self. And I’ve been that way ever since.” – Cynt Marshall [49:20]
• Launching Culture Change
  “We would set the NBA standard, the global standard for diversity and inclusion.” – Cynt Marshall [64:37] “You own it. I run it.” – Cynt Marshall to Mark Cuban [67:59]
• On Sisterhood
  “It’s a hasu moment. Hook a sister up.” – Cynt Marshall [74:00]

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment | Topic | Timestamp | |---------|-------|-----------| | Opening (skip ads, start real content) | Episode intro and March Madness | 01:38–16:06 | | Mental health in sports | Lauren Betts & Katie Meyer Story | 03:45–07:48 | | Bracket talk & Cinderella stories | March Madness specific segment | 07:48–14:13 | | Women in history/statues | Underrepresentation & statues | 21:05–35:08 | | If/Then She Can & STEM | Statues and role models | 32:02–44:06 | | Cynt Marshall Interview | Early days, AT&T, authenticity | 45:16–54:30 | | Mavericks transformation | Mavericks & leadership strategy | 54:57–75:36 | | Hasu story & sisterhood | Support among women | 73:34–76:09 | | Reflections on Cynt’s impact | Host wrap-up and inspiration | 80:06–81:22 |

Tone & Spirit

• Upbeat, supportive, community-focused.
• Hosts openly champion each others’ (and guests’) accomplishments.
• Real talk about progress and setbacks for women in sports/business, with humor and honesty.
• Heavy emphasis on authenticity, empathy, and collective action, encapsulated in “listen, learn, and love” as leadership philosophy.

For Listeners Who Missed the Show

This episode is for anyone who wants to see how real leadership, grounded in lived experience and unshakeable authenticity, can change organizations and lives. Through Cynt Marshall’s journey—and the hosts’ lively banter and stats—you’ll find insight, inspiration, and practical ideas for building more inclusive spaces in sports, business, and beyond.

Memorable Takeaways:

• Authenticity at work is powerful and necessary.
• Representation—whether in history books or on city streets—shapes what future generations believe is possible.
• Leadership is “listening, learning, and loving” your people.
• Women supporting women (“Hook a Sister Up!”) can ripple out to culture-wide change.