Join OPEN Finance Women+ and S&P Global for an Evening with the NY/NJ Gotham FC. Founded in 2007, the Gotham FC plays in the National Women’s Soccer League and boasts numerous Olympic gold medalists and World Cup champions. Members of both OPEN Finance Women+ and S&P Global will have the opportunity to see the Gotham FC in action as they take on Angel City FC at Red Bull Stadium on August 28 at 5:00pm.
Following the game, OPEN Finance Women+ and S&P Global will host a panel, featuring Ali Krieger, US National Women's Soccer team and Gotham FC defender; Imani Dorsey, Gotham FC defender; Andrea Pagnanelli, Chief Business Officer for Gotham FC; and Bailey Weigel, Director of Marketing for Gotham FC. Carolyn Pitta, Head of Product Development at S&P Global Marketplace, will lead the panel discussion, which will focus on LGBTQ inclusion in professional sports organizations. As a leader in the space, members of the Gotham FC will discuss how the Gotham promotes, supports and markets LGBTQ inclusion and why it is important to the organization.
Ali Krieger, a two time World Cup Champion and Olympian for the US Women’s National Team, has played professionally all over the world—including five seasons with FC Frankfurt, three with the Washington Spirit, one with Tyreso FF in Sweden and three more with the Orlando Pride. The defender played soccer and graduated from Penn State University. In 2022 she continued her impressive and resilient journey joining NJ/NY Gotham FC alongside her teammate and wife, Ashlyn Harris. Ali and Ashlyn are devoted mothers to their daughter, Sloane.
Imani Dorsey is a current defender of NJ/NY Gotham FC. She attended Duke University, where she finished 4th all time in goals scored during her time there. She was drafted by Sky Blue FC (former name of Gotham FC) in 2018, having a stellar season and winning the 2018 NWSL Rookie of the Year Award. Dorsey is passionate about her position of being an ambassador for Athlete Ally, dedicating her time to advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion and equality.
Andrea Pagnanelli is Gotham FCs Chief Business Officer. Pagnanelli has 15 years of experience in the
sports industry and has held several roles in the NBA, NFL, MLS, and Relevent Sports.
Most recently as Chief Operating Officer of Thuzio, Pagnanelli focused on branding strategies and sales
roadmaps to maximize revenue. She led the organization’s pivot to virtual events in the wake of the
pandemic.
Before her time with Thuzio, Pagnanelli has focused her career on the growth of soccer in the United
States and globally. She was previously Executive Vice President, Venue & Event Strategy for LAFC
where she oversaw all events including concerts, festivals, sporting events, and conferences at Banc of
California Stadium. Additionally, Pagnanelli was Vice President of Commercial at Relevent Sports for four
years where she was responsible for all activities related to the annual marketing plan, brand strategy,
ticketing, social media, sponsorship activation, and digital execution for the International Champions Cup.
Andrea got her start in the sports industry at the Phoenix Suns then shortly moved to the front office of the
New York Jets. She advanced rapidly within the team, starting as an account executive before being
named sales manager during the opening of MetLife Stadium. She was later promoted to Group Sales
Manager, building the first group sales department at the New York Jets from scratch. Andrea left the
New York Jets to pursue the opportunity to start her own company and become the CEO of LeapSeats,
an in-venue seat upgrade app.
A division 1 soccer player and graduate of Brown University, Pagnanelli sits on the board of the Super
Soccer Stars Foundation, Volo Kids, and the advisory board for Fan Compass. Andrea was named
Forbes 30 under 30 and New York Business Journal’s Woman of Influence.
Bailey Weigel currently serves as Director of Marketing for Gotham FC. She joins the club after most recently serving as Senior Manager of Digital Platforms for Madison Square Garden Entertainment, where she led website, mobile app and emerging digital platform strategy for the New York Knicks and New York Rangers. As a leader of the teams’ digital execution, Bailey was primarily responsible for driving big picture business goals and strategies across these platforms.
Prior to MSG, Bailey worked in Tournament Services for the PGA Tour before joining the Manhattan Sports Business Academy, a summer industry immersion program, as the organization’s second full-time employee in 2015. An alumnae of MSBA herself, Bailey spent three years leading the program’s branding and marketing efforts, planning and executing the calendar of annual summer events, and managing the quality control of the student experience. In recognition of her work with MSBA, Bailey was named a 2018 recipient of the Front Office Sports Rising 25 Award.
Bailey attended the State University of New York at Potsdam on a full academic scholarship and graduated with a B.S. in Business Administration and a double minor in Communication and Mathematics. She was inducted into the Potsdam Athletics Hall of Fame in 2021 following a decorated basketball and lacrosse career. Though born and raised in Buffalo, NY, Bailey is a diehard Cincinnati sports
fan and still recovering from her Bengals’ 2022 Cinderella run to Super Bowl LVI. She currently resides in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of Manhattan with her fiancée, Melanie, and their beloved rescue dog, Finn.
Carolyn Pitta is currently the Head of Product Development for the S&P Global Marketplace. The S&P Global Marketplace allows you to explore premium fundamental and alternative datasets available seamlessly via Cloud, Data Feed, API solutions, and S&P Capital IQ Pro, along with expert analysis you won't find anywhere else. Prior to joining S&P Global, Carolyn worked as a technology project manager/business analyst with J.P. Morgan, Solutions Architect with CrowdTwist, and in Alternative Investments Investor Services with UBS Financial Services. She holds an M.S. in Information Systems from the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College. In her spare time, Carolyn can be found either playing soccer or running in Brooklyn and is an avid women's soccer fan.