Now in her 15th season with the Minnesota Lynx and 20th in the WNBA, Karly Knox knows just about everything about basketball. Her role with the Minnesota Lynx is both an honor and a powerful one. Knox is the Lynx's President of Business Operations, which means in her day-to-day job, she oversees all business operations for the Lynx, including ticket sales and service, logistics, business development with the Lynx President's Circle and corporate partnerships, budget management, diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, season scheduling, and serves as the primary liaison between the team and the WNBA regarding business, COO and marketing efforts across the league.
Perhaps Knox's most impressive work and accomplishments include the creation of the Minnesota Lynx's Presidents Circle. Presidents Circle is one of the most exclusive and innovative programs in professional sports and is the first of its kind. In addition to unparalleled access to the lynx, this elite club offers avid fans a unique opportunity to give back to their community. Presidents Circle has provided support to over 65 non-profit organizations and helped more than 5,000 underserved youth. For Knox, it's all about giving back and making the world a better place.
Knox wholeheartedly believes in the Lynx mission of using sports as a means to fight for all underserved groups and change the world for the better. To her, basketball is not just basketball, it's a way to make the world a better place. “Lynx has always led the way in these areas,” Knox said. [social] “I'm really proud of those causes and activities and what we've built here. Obviously, winning four championships in seven years is great, but I'm even more proud of the social justice work and activism I've done off the court.”
The Minnesota Lynx have a long history of activism and dedication to social justice. Whether it was actively involved in supporting same-sex marriage (they were there the day it was passed), being the first team to stand in solidarity against police brutality, or being the first sports team to wear “Black Lives Matter” warm-up shirts, they have always used their platform for good. The Lynx are not afraid of hard conversations. After all, it's what moves our society forward and leads to a more fair and equal place to live. Knox said, “Sports is a microcosm of society. We've always talked about it in the WNBA, it's about showing the world what's possible. When you come to our games, you see the beauty and the diversity and how different groups of people come together. And here, everyone is coming together and being part of this larger movement.”
The WNBA as we know it today is a very open organization and supports a beautiful and diverse population. But unfortunately, it wasn't always that way. Knox knows personally how difficult it was to be a lesbian who came out in public, or any marginalized group. She says, “I was a college athlete myself, and a college coach, and I saw and experienced homophobia firsthand. [and] I've seen the racism and sexism that's so prevalent in sports, especially in women's sports, and that's hindering the development of women's sports. So I think it's really important to realize that this isn't just about winning or losing, it's about this larger movement that we're all a part of. From the coaches to the players to the staff, everyone shares the same values.”
Knox's dedication to her dream and her tireless commitment to social justice and change helped shape the WNBA into what it is today. She continues, “I was the first openly LGBTQ+ athlete at Ohio University. I think I've blazed a trail throughout my career. I think I've stayed true to myself along my path. I think the experiences I had early on in my career definitely drove the work I do today.” Her identity as a lesbian and a member of the LGBTQ+ community “definitely influences my passion to speak up when I see injustice. And every day when I come to work, I feel like I'm contributing to changing the world.” [I’m] “Leaving the world better than I found it. I'm so passionate about that. Not just a personal passion, but the intersectionality of what we do here and how it's so meaningful for all of us to stand together and make a difference together.”
The whole country seems to be buzzing with enthusiasm for women's basketball and the WNBA right now, which only adds fuel to Knox and the Minnesota Lynx's cause. “This movement is palpable,” Knox says, but she doesn't think it's a one-off. She continues, “Kaitlyn Clark's impact is so incredible, but there are so many people who paved the way before her that have gotten us to this point. So many women of color, especially in the WNBA, have paved the way for this moment. This has been a movement that's been going on for a long time, so I don't think this is a one-shot deal… I think this is the next step in a movement that so many people have been fighting for.”
Women's sports are coming to the forefront, getting more recognition, more airtime, playing in sports bars, and being watched by fans — all of this progress will continue, thanks in large part to the hard work of the WNBA and the Minnesota Lynx, but also, as Knox says, “the people who paved the way for us, especially the incredible women of color in the WNBA who paved the way.”
The door has opened for female athletes, athletes of all sexual orientations, and for young queer athletes, Carly Knox is arguably the best role model to look up to. “I want to live my life in a way that represents how I want to see the world, how I want the world to be, and hopefully be an example for those who come after me,” Knox says. “I remember coming out to my family when I was younger, and they said, 'You'll never get married, you'll never have kids,' so I was just like, 'Watch me.'”
Seeing such a powerful, respected and beloved member of the LGBTQ+ community can be a light for many queer youth. Through all the trials and tribulations from her start in the industry, Knox has created a place of peace and love for all in the basketball world. When asked what she loves about being a lesbian, Carly Knox smiled. She didn't have to think for more than a moment. “I love women,” she laughed. “I love my wife. I love the family we've built. I love my 9-year-old son. I love fighting for all marginalized groups. I love being a member of the LGBTQ+ community, being politically active, being authentic and unapologetic… I love all of those things. And I think they all intersect in beautiful ways.” A perfect example of being able to be yourself. and Make your dreams come true, you don't have to choose one or the other.
The Minnesota Lynx will continue to fight for a better, more equitable world and celebrate the beauty of diversity in all its forms.
Minnesota Lynx Pride Game vs. Phoenix Mercury
June 22 – 7pm
Target Center, Minneapolis
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