Sports Analytics Gets a New Pulse

The MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference is celebrating its 20th anniversary, evolving from a modest classroom concept into a sprawling event that attracts athletes, tech experts, and business leaders worldwide.

Jessica Gelman: From Court to Code

Background: Former Harvard basketball player.
Career Path: Transformed curiosity about high‑pressure performance into a data science career.
Leadership: CEO of Kraft Analytics for the past decade, now marking a decade in that role while overseeing conference growth.

From 76ers Partnership to Global Gathering

Origins: Began with Philadelphia 76ers president Daryl Morey.
2024 Venue: Boston Convention Center.
Attendance:
2,500 participants
42 U.S. states
31 countries
130 universities
80 sports teams

Data Explosion Drives Relevance

Digital data in sports doubles every two years.
Conference topics mirror this rapid expansion, making analytics more critical than ever.

Highlighted Sessions

Theme	Description
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (2022)	Covered NFL’s Rooney Rule, transgender athletes.
Heated Revelry (2024)	Panel celebrating LGBT+ inclusion featuring Harrison Browne, the first openly transgender professional hockey player.
Iconic Interviews	One‑on‑one with WNBA legend Sue Bird and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.
Legal Scrutiny	Discussions on prediction markets under regulatory review.

Talent Pipeline

Companies such as Fanatics and DraftKings recruit directly from MIT Sloan students who help organize the event.
Alumni like NBA executive Evan Wasch and Olympic ticketing strategist Allison Katz‑Mayfield return to share insights, reinforcing a cycle of learning and giving back.

Vision for the Future

“We don’t want a conference that feels stale,” says Gelman.
Morey echoes the need to evolve while staying authentic.

Together, they aim to keep the conference fresh without chasing celebrity appearances, ensuring it remains a dynamic forum where data meets sport, business meets culture, and future leaders are shaped.