USA TODAY Announces 2025 Women of the Year in Celebration of Women's History Month

Business Wire 27-Feb-2025 8:35 AM

National Honorees Include Hoda Kotb, Jonquel Jones, Ilona Maher, Angela Williams, Scout Bassett, Kellie Gerardi and Priscilla Almodovar and 54 local honorees from across the country

USA TODAY, part of Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE:GCI), announced today the 2025 Women of the Year. Each honoree demonstrates the power and resilience of women who break barriers, uplift their communities, drive industries and beyond. Representing a diverse group from fields including business, athletics, entertainment, broadcast media and more, these trailblazers forge the way for future generations.

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In honor of Women's History Month throughout the month of March, USA TODAY spotlights women who embody the spirit of female empowerment. The 2025 slate includes local honorees, each representing one of the 50 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, and seven notable national honorees who have made significant contributions to our society.

The 2025 USA TODAY Women of the Year national honorees include:

• Priscilla Almodovar – As President & CEO of Fannie Mae, Priscilla leads a national financial institution focused on facilitating equitable and sustainable access to homeownership and quality, affordable rental housing across America. Priscilla's professional rise as a Latina in the industry has shattered glass ceilings, serving as a role model to women and people of color and as a leader in the finance and real estate sectors.
• Scout Bassett – A paralympic track and field athlete, Scout was born in Nanjing, China and spent her youth in an orphanage before being adopted by a couple in Michigan. She discovered track and field at 14 and has since achieved the highest level of recognition in sports, taking home the gold medal in the Women's Long Jump T42-44/T61-63 at the Parapan American Games in Lima, Peru. Scout also serves as the President of the Women's Sports Foundation, working to address the disparities female athletes with disabilities face in parasports.
• Kellie Gerardi – As a commercial astronaut, Kellie is lauded for a sub-orbital spaceflight with Virgin Galactic as a payload specialist. Through her work with Virgin Galactic and the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences, Kellie works to make space exploration accessible to women and young people in STEM. She is also an author, social media influencer, and popular science communicator.
• Jonquel (JJ) Jones – Champion forward with the WNBA New York Liberty basketball team, JJ was named the MVP of the WNBA finals, leading the Liberty to their first WNBA Championship in their victory over the Minnesota Lynx in 2024. Her career began in the Bahamas before moving to the United States at 14 and earning a Division I scholarship straight out of high school. She later completed an impressive collegiate career that led to her draft in the WNBA in 2016. JJ is a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community and is a vocal advocate for self-expression.
• Hoda Kotb – Beloved broadcast journalist, author and notable television personality for audiences across the country for nearly 25 years as a veteran NBC News journalist and TODAY co-anchor. She has recently begun a second act that includes the launch of her own wellness company. Hoda is an activist and advocate for breast cancer awareness and the author of multiple bestselling books showcasing her values and infectious, unwavering optimism.
• Ilona Maher – American rugby player, Ilona brought home a bronze medal in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Advocating for body positivity and increased awareness of women's sports, Ilona won the hearts of millions as a competitor on Dancing with the Stars. She recently joined England's Bristol Bears, setting her sights on the 2025 Rugby World Cup.
• Angela F. Williams – As President & CEO of United Way Worldwide, Angela seeks to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities around the world to advance the common good. Angela is the first Black woman to take the helm. She has dedicated much of her career to championing social justice. Angela's leadership at United Way Worldwide has seen the organization tackling some of society's most pressing issues, from housing insecurity to gender and racial equity.

"I am deeply inspired by the resolve and contributions of these remarkable women who make the world a better place," said Monica Richardson, USA TODAY Senior Vice President. "I am honored to share their stories as USA TODAY's 2025 Women of the Year and amplify their voices across the USA TODAY Network."

National honorees will be featured in USA TODAY's print editions throughout the month and celebrated at an exclusive event hosted at the Barclays Center on March 4, 2025. Interviews with state honorees will appear in their respective USA TODAY Network local publications the first week of March.

To read the stories of the 2025 distinguished local and national honorees, visit womenoftheyear.usatoday.com.

ABOUT GANNETT

Gannett Co., Inc. is a diversified media company with expansive reach at the national and local level dedicated to empowering and enriching communities. We seek to inspire, inform, and connect audiences as a sustainable, growth focused media and digital marketing solutions company. Through our trusted brands, including the USA TODAY NETWORK, comprised of the national publication, USA TODAY, and local media organizations, including 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 high-quality, trusted content with a commitment to balanced, unbiased journalism, where and when consumers want to engage. Our digital marketing solutions brand, LocaliQ, supports small and medium-sized businesses with innovative digital marketing products and solutions.

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 73 million unique visitors each month (based on December 2024 Comscore Media Metrix®).

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MEDIA CONTACTS Lark-Marie Antón Chief Communications Officer (646) 906-4087 lark@gannett.com

Audrey Pass VP, Communications (646) 416-0272 apass@gannett.com