Support for women’s national teams, the development of sports stories for new audiences and media projects addressing the position of female athletes are among the reasons Michael Strahan, Flavor Flav and Kelley O’Hara will receive special honors at the 2026 Clio Sports Awards. The ceremony will take place on December 8 at The Edison Ballroom in New York City, bringing together more than 400 sports and brand marketing professionals from different countries.
Two of this year’s honors focus on contributions to women’s sports. Flavor Flav will receive the Clio Sports Impact Award for his support in increasing the visibility of women’s teams and investment in their success. The musician, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, supported American female athletes at the 2024 Paris Olympics and the 2026 Winter Olympics, including competitors in water polo, bobsled and skeleton.
His involvement includes financial support, sponsorships and the SHE Weekend initiative, which connects female Olympians and Paralympians with fans and potential sponsors.
Kelley O’Hara, a two-time women’s soccer world champion and Olympic gold medalist, will receive the Clio Sports Impact Award, presented by AT&T. The award is connected to the She’s Connected platform from AT&T, which highlights female athletes making contributions to business, entrepreneurship and community, both on and off the field.
O’Hara’s work in media and production, along with her brand partnerships, focuses on greater representation of women’s voices and the challenges women face in professional sports. She also continues this work through support for the next generation of female athletes.
Strahan will receive the Honorary Clio Sports Award for his influence on sports, media and popular culture. A Super Bowl champion and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, he spent 15 seasons with the New York Giants and became a well-known television personality after his playing career through Good Morning America and FOX NFL Sunday. Through his work with SMAC Entertainment and Religion of Sports, he also contributes to developing content that allows athletes and creators to connect with audiences beyond competition.
The ceremony will be hosted by Pablo Torre, a journalist, podcaster and television host whose work has appeared on ESPN, MS Now and in Sports Illustrated. His podcast Pablo Torre Finds Out won the 2026 Pulitzer Prize for Audio Reporting.
Launched in 2014, the Clio Sports competition is dedicated to creativity in sports advertising and marketing. Alongside its competitive awards, its special honors recognize athletes and public figures whose creative work influences the development of the sports industry and popular culture.
Gold, Silver and Bronze winners, along with shortlisted entries, will be announced in mid-November. The December ceremony will reveal the Grand Clio winners and the Agency, League, Team, Brand and Media Brand of the Year award winners.
