Game Changers visit their statues

By Annie Chu

After captivating visitors for 34 days during FIFA Fan Festival Dallas, Lyda Hill Philanthropies’ IF/THEN Initiative is celebrating the global impact of #IfThenSheCan – The Exhibit: Game Changers, a monumental installation featuring 26 life-size, 3-D printed statues of living women whose careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) are actively transforming the sports industry.

In collaboration with the North Texas FWC Organizing Committee, the interactive exhibit at FIFA Fan Festival Dallas saw countless visitors from Thursday, June 11, through Sunday, July 19. Attendees of all ages and from across the world experienced the exhibit, learning how scientists, engineers, athletes, shoe designers, stadium architects, turf grass biologists, physicians and other STEM innovators are shaping athletics and inspiring the next generation to pursue careers they may have never imagined.

Throughout the exhibit’s run, 20 Game Changers visited their statues, surprising festivalgoers who had the opportunity to meet the women being represented. The conversations allowed visitors to hear firsthand about STEM careers in sports and reinforced the IF/THEN Initiative’s mission to increase the visibility and accessibility of STEM for the next generation.

“It has been incredibly rewarding to see so many people discover that turfgrass science is a career and such an important part of the sports world,” said Ambika Chandra, Ph.D., Game Changer and turfgrass breeder. “It’s exciting to show them that there are many ways STEM shapes sports and to help young people discover career paths they never knew existed.”

“It was an honor to have fans and visitors embrace the incredible exhibit during FIFA Fan Festival Dallas,” said Monica Paul, president of the North Texas FWC Organizing Committee. “The excitement and curiosity it sparked made it a standout part of the event, proving that sports, STEM and storytelling can come together to create meaningful, inspiring moments for fans of every generation.”

Since 2019, the IF/THEN Initiative has worked to inspire future STEM leaders by increasing the visibility of women in STEM. #IfThenSheCan – The Exhibit: Game Changers expanded on that mission to the world’s biggest sporting event, showcasing the women driving innovation in sports.

“Seeing thousands of people stop to engage with these remarkable women and their stories reinforced exactly why the exhibit exists,” said Nicole Small, CEO of Lyda Hill Philanthropies, LH Capital, Inc., and co-founder of IF/THEN. “Some of the most meaningful moments were watching visitors realize that the woman standing beside the statue was the very person it represented. Those interactions showed young people that today’s STEM leaders are real, accessible role models. We hope everyone who experienced the exhibit walked away believing that if they can see it, they can be it.”

 This fall, the statues will be installed at Pegasus Park, the 26-acre life science innovation and social impact hub in Dallas, where they will continue inspiring visitors to explore the many ways STEM powers sports. 

The stories of the featured Game Changers, along with videos and educational resources created for the exhibit, will remain available through the free IF/THEN Collection at IfThenCollection.org, giving students, educators and families lasting access to the women and careers featured in the exhibit. 

The Game Changers will continue serving as advocates and role models, helping inspire the next generation to pursue STEM careers that make sports possible. Learn more about the featured Game Changers at IfThenSheCan.org/Game-Changers.

  Featured