As thousands of soccer fans from around the globe descend on Fair Park for FIFA World Cup 2026 festivities, a new exhibit aims to spotlight the women whose innovations are shaping the future of sports far beyond the playing field.
Lyda Hill Philanthropies’ IF/THEN® Initiative, in partnership with the North Texas FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee, has unveiled #IfThenSheCan – The Exhibit: Game Changers, a public installation featuring 26 life-sized, 3D-printed statues honoring women whose careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) are transforming the sports industry.
Located along the pedestrian walkway at the Southwest Entry Gate of the FIFA Fan Festival™ Dallas, the exhibit is free and open to the public through July 19.
For Dallas Weekly readers, the exhibit’s significance extends beyond STEM innovation. Five Black women are among the 26 honorees, showcasing the breadth of Black excellence shaping the future of sports. They include former Dallas Mavericks CEO Cynt Marshall, Dallas Trinity FC Athletic Trainer Branay Hicks, Family and Sports Medicine Physician Dr. Marcia Faustin, Pediatric and Sports Medicine Physician Dr. Monique S. Burton, and U.S. Women’s National Team star Naomi Girma. Together, they represent leadership, medicine, athlete development and elite competition, demonstrating that Black women are helping drive the future of sports both on and off the field.
The exhibit arrives at a time when Dallas is preparing to welcome a global audience as one of the primary host regions for the FIFA World Cup. Organizers say the installation is designed to inspire young people—particularly girls—to envision themselves pursuing careers in STEM through the lens of sports.
“Sports captivate young people everywhere,” said Nicole Small, CEO of Lyda Hill Philanthropies and Co-Founder of IF/THEN. “By showcasing women thriving in STEM careers connected to the sports industry during one of the world’s biggest sporting events, we hope young visitors will see the many paths available for their own futures and recognize that they belong in these fields.”
The 26 women featured represent 11 states and a wide range of professions, including sports medicine physicians, biomechanical engineers, architects, data scientists, environmental physiologists, sports dietitians, wearable technology experts, and athletic trainers. Their work demonstrates how modern sports rely on innovation far beyond the athletes competing on the field. Among the North Texas honorees are sports executive Cynt Marshall, wearable technology product manager Aline Bass Callahan, turfgrass researcher Dr. Ambika Chandra, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Antonia Chen, sports dietitian Christy Schuld, data analyst Sarah Mallepalle, and several others helping shape the future of athletics through science and technology.
Each statue includes a QR code that connects visitors to digital stories, photographs, and videos detailing the featured woman’s journey and career. Organizers say the goal is to make these role models accessible and relatable to young people who may never have considered a future in STEM.
“When girls can see women succeeding in STEM careers tied to something as exciting and universal as sports, it can change how they imagine their own futures,” said Lyda Hill, founder of Lyda Hill Philanthropies. “If they can see it, then they can be it.”
The Game Changers exhibit builds upon the success of the original #IfThenSheCan installation, which debuted in 2021 as the largest collection of statues of real women ever assembled in one location. Since then, the exhibit has traveled to major venues nationwide, including the Smithsonian Institution, Central Park Zoo, Dallas Love Field Airport, and NorthPark Center, reaching more than five million visitors.
For Dallas, the exhibit represents more than a celebration of STEM achievement—it is an opportunity to showcase the diverse talent driving innovation in one of the world’s most influential industries while inspiring the next generation of leaders.
As FIFA Fan Festival Dallas welcomes visitors from around the world, these lime-green statues stand as a reminder that behind every game-changing moment in sports are innovators, scientists, physicians, engineers, and visionaries helping make those moments possible.
The exhibit is free and open to the public daily through July 19 at FIFA Fan Festival Dallas inside Fair Park.
