--Courtesy of Cal Lutheran Athletics--
Alex Mallen didn’t choose Cal Lutheran by accident. She chose it because it felt like the place where she could grow as an athlete, a leader, and a human being.
“The opportunity to continue my basketball career under head coach Kristy Hopkins was the primary reason I took a serious look at Cal Lutheran,” Mallen says. “Kristy believed in me both as a player and as a leader, and I knew I could grow on the court while also fully experiencing college life under her guidance and within the culture she cultivated.”
But it wasn’t just basketball that drew her in. It was also the people.
“The second factor was the sense of warmth and community I felt the moment I set foot on campus,” she recalls. “That experience opened my eyes to what Cal Lutheran truly was — not just a school, but a place where I could form authentic, meaningful relationships with people who genuinely cared about others and about making a positive impact on the world.”
When Mallen arrived on campus, the women’s basketball team was coming off a difficult season. By the time she graduated, the program had become a SCIAC powerhouse.
“We went from a 4–19 season my freshman year to back-to-back SCIAC Championships by my junior and senior years,” Mallen says. “That experience gave me a front-row seat — alongside my teammates — to what it truly takes to turn around a program.”
Her tenure as a captain accelerated her development well beyond the court.
“For me, the most powerful lesson was the importance of building real relationships with every member of the team,” she explains. “I learned to understand each person’s ‘why,’ what motivated them, and what they needed in order to show up and compete at their best.”
Athletic trainer Cody Owens witnessed that leadership daily.
“Alex was an incredibly hard working athlete,” he says. “Tons of extra hours in the gym, studying film, making sure her teammates were prepared. Alex was not one to come into the Athletic Training Room for anything unless she had to. She wanted to be in the court no matter what.”
He adds, “As a leader Alex was a motivator, led by example, rallying the troops, always encouraging, pushing her teammates to achieve at a higher level kind of captain. Alex was also a leader in the classroom and a top supporter of other programs. Alex seems to bleed purple and gold to this day,” he says. “Anytime I get a chance to run into her it’s such an uplifting conversation and I can’t help but feel positive about whatever it was we spoke about.”
Two decades after graduating from CLU, Mallen now leads the Partnership Sales team at Angel City FC, which is a pinnacle role in one of the most influential women’s sports organizations in the world. But at 21, she didn’t know this path existed.
“Twenty years ago, I was a senior at Cal Lutheran, trying to imagine what a career in sports could look like,” she says. “At that time, most of the women I saw in sports were coaches — including my own — so it felt like one of the only visible pathways to stay connected to the game.”
Everything shifted when she joined WISE, the Women in Sports & Events Organization with a dedication to expanding the opportunities in the sports world to further include women.
“Through WISE, I was exposed to the breadth of roles that existed across the sports industry — roles I never knew were possible,” Mallen says. “There was a real hunger, and a real need, for women to come together, support one another, and expand opportunities across both the business and on-field sides of sports.”
Now, in 2025, the industry looks very different than it did in 2005.
“Being a woman in sports today brings an enormous sense of pride,” she says. “Instead of simply fighting to force doors open, we’ve created new doors — new pathways, new opportunities, and new spaces that are more welcoming, inclusive, and celebratory of women who want to build careers in this industry.”
Alex’s message to girls and young women in sports is clear: the industry is much bigger and far more accessible than they may think.
“Whatever your passions, skills, or strengths are — there is a place for you in sports,” she says. She encourages them to explore roles across “marketing to data, operations, storytelling, technology, partnerships, community impact, and beyond.”
Among her practical tips for young women looking to take that first step into the sports industry:
- “Join WISE to build real relationships with women across the industry.”
- “Read SBJ and Front Office Sports to stay informed on trends that shape the business.”
- “Listen to podcasts that cover the business of sports, not just scores and highlights.”
- “Explore job boards across teams, leagues, brands, agencies, and media companies.”
- “Use AI tools to get quick snapshots of industry knowledge and career paths as you learn.”
However, one tip rises above the rest.
“Above all, networking is essential,” she says. “Focus on building authentic relationships with your peers, not just hiring managers. The people who grow alongside you in the industry often become the most impactful connections throughout your career.”
Reflecting on her time at Cal Lutheran, Mallen knows its lessons never left her, and never will.
“It took every one of us to transform into a championship team, but the leadership lessons I carried from that journey continue to shape how I show up every single day.”
And for those who watched her grow, her mark on the program and the people alongside her on her journey remains unmistakable.
Alex didn’t just play for Cal Lutheran. She helped redefine what it means to be a Regal, leaving a legacy behind that continues to influence the program today.
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