🏆 Building a Career Across Tickets, Partnerships, and Player Deals

Together with

Danielle White is the Senior Business Development Manager at OneTeam Partners, where she works with player associations to bring in new licensing opportunities and partnerships. Danielle is also part of The Collectiv, the sports industry’s first community-powered venture capital fund. She has held roles across ticket sales, account management, corporate partnerships, and community marketing with organizations including Monumental Sports & Entertainment, Dick’s Sporting Goods, the Bowie Baysox, and the Reading Fightin Phils. A former Division I tennis player at Rider University, Danielle blends her competitive drive and relationship-building skills to connect brands, athletes, and fans.

Tennis to Minor League Baseball

Danielle’s path in sports started on the tennis courts of Rider University, where she played at the collegiate level. Sports had always been part of her DNA as her father was an athletic director, and her brother a track coach, so it was only a matter of time before she made a career out of it.

That career began unexpectedly her senior year after a foot injury sidelined her for the spring season. Looking for something to fill the time, she took an internship with her hometown minor league baseball team, the Reading Fightin Phils. “That was my introduction to the business of sports,” she says. “I was in the ticket operations department, and it gave me a real look at how it all works.” After graduating, Danielle took her first full-time role with the Bowie Baysox in Maryland selling tickets. “I was thrilled for that paycheck — though looking back, I don’t know how I survived on it,” she laughs. “Minor league baseball doesn’t pay much, but you get a ton of great experience.”

Climbing the Ladder in Sales and Partnerships

From there, she joined Monumental Sports & Entertainment, starting in ticket sales for the Washington Mystics. In her rookie season, she became the number-one seller in the entire league. “It was about more than selling tickets,” she says. “It was about connection.” She moved into account management, focusing on season ticket members while continuing to drive add-on sales. Her approach was simple – listen, build trust, and be the go-to person when members wanted to attend other events under the Monumental umbrella.

Her next move was to the global partnerships team, managing major accounts like Capital One and MedStar. But after years of working across so many games and events, burnout set in. Danielle transitioned to Dick’s Sporting Goods as a community marketing manager, where she tapped into her philanthropic side. “I wasn’t asking for money, I was giving it,” she says. “It was about investing in communities while still generating ROI for the company.” Eventually, her competitive nature pulled her back toward business development. “I missed chasing goals,” she admits. That led her to OneTeam Partners, where she now combines every skill she’s built – ticket sales, account management, partnerships, and community engagement – to work with player associations and bring in new licensing opportunities.

What Matter Most

For Danielle, determination is non-negotiable. “It’s about what you’re willing to do when no one’s watching, and who you’re willing to help when no one’s watching,” she says. She learned early on to do things without expecting applause. “Those small, unseen actions say more about you than any big public win.”

Slowing Down & Embracing Being Uncomfortable

Looking back, Danielle says two lessons have stuck with her. First: slow down. “Enjoy the moments with your family and friends. They’ll be there in the highs and the lows,” she says. Second: have patience. “I move fast in everything I do, but sometimes you need grace and patience to let things work out.”

When it comes to advice for someone trying to break into sports, she keeps it simple: “Get comfortable with being uncomfortable,” she says. “Don’t talk yourself out of reaching out to someone or starting a conversation. You never know what could come from it.”

Overcoming Challenges

One of her earliest challenges was overcoming her discomfort with speaking to strangers. “I wouldn’t even call to order a pizza,” she says. Ticket sales forced her out of her shell. “I learned the worst thing someone can say is no and that’s not the end of the world.” Those skills became the foundation for her career in sales, partnerships, and relationship management. She’s also learned to embrace the unknown. Leaving Monumental, where she’d built her career and community, was tough. “It was family. But sometimes you have to leave what’s comfortable to grow.”

Her Why

Danielle’s drive comes from three places: her family, herself, and yes — she’s honest about it — financial success. “My family shaped who I am, and I want to make them proud. I also want to prove to that shy five-year-old version of me that I can thrive on big stages,” she says. “And of course, there’s the reality of wanting to build a future for myself and my future family.”

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