{
  "id": 16309929,
  "title": "Boss of $1 billion WNBA team Valkyries says she rejects work-life balance because she loves the grind: ‘I’m not apologizing for what brings me joy’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/24/boss-of-1-billion-wnba-team-valkyries-says-she-rejects-work-life",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-24T09:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Fortune",
    "slug": "fortune",
    "url": "https://fortune.com/2026/10/24/golden-state-valkyries-president-jess-smith-rejects-work-life-balance-loves-the-grind-not-apologizing-for-what-brings-me-joy/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Jess Smith, President of the Golden State Valkyries, a $1 billion women's basketball team, has rejected the concept of work-life balance, stating that it often sets one up for failure. In a recent interview with Fortune, Smith emphasized her gratitude for her life, which includes her career, family, and self-care.\n\nHaving recently become a mother, Smith found herself pondering the balance between her demanding career and motherhood. She is now passionate about her job and does not apologize for it, encouraging her children to embrace work just as she does. Smith believes that happiness often comes from pursuing one's passions and is not afraid to express her love for her career to her children.\n\nSelf-care is a crucial aspect of Smith's life and she does not compartmentalize her professional and personal life. She takes advantage of free weekends to attend her children's soccer games and makes sure to use her vacation time. Smith extends the same philosophy to her team of around 88 staff members, encouraging them to prioritize their well-being amidst the team's rigorous travel schedule and game commitments.\n\nTo facilitate this balance, Smith has collaborated with her Valkyries leadership team to ensure that her employees receive the rest and recovery they need. She has requested that people managers grant their staff members two weeks of remote work and take advantage of the off-season months of November and December to recharge. Smith expects her staff to take time off and actively plans for their breaks to ensure everyone can have their space.\n\nCurrently, the Valkyries are on the road, participating in the WNBA Finals against the Atlanta Dream. The San Francisco team is trailing 2-1 in the series and aims to even the series before the next game.",
  "summary": "Golden State Valkyries President Jess Smith tries to “live in gratitude” and isn’t willing to apologize for loving to work.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}