2019 Aurora Games


The 2019 Aurora Games was a female international multi-sport event that was held between 20 and 25 August 2019 in Albany, New York, United States of America. Planned to be a biennial event, the Times Union Center served as host venue. Albany shall also serve as host city for the 2021 and 2023 Aurora Games.
In addition, the Aurora Games featured musical performances, food tastings, sports clinics, autograph sessions and the “Conversations with Champions” series of seminars. The keynote speaker for the Aurora Games was Judge Rosemarie Aquilina, who presided over the case of the disgraced US Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar.

The Games

Sports

The 2019 Aurora Games programme featured seven sports. Team and individual competitions consisted of athletes from 15 countries participating as part of All-star teams known as Team Americas and Team World. Said teams were led by honorary captains Jackie Joyner Kersee and Nadia Comaneci with the teams competing for the Babe Didrikson Zaharias Trophy. Team Americas captured the first Trophy, defeating Team World in six of the seven events.

Results

Rosters

Team Americas

THIS IS AN INCOMPLETE LIST
NameSportPositionHeightNationalityNotes
TennisN/A2019 US Open champion
BasketballCompeted in the WNBA with the San Antonio Silver Stars
BasketballSelected by the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA Draft
Ice HockeyForwardGold medalist in women's ice hockey at 2018 Winter Games
GymnasticsN/ASpecialist in Power Tumbling
GymnasticsN/A2019 NCAA floor exercise co-champion
Ice HockeyGoaltenderNCAA all-time wins leader
First pick overall of 2017 NWHL Draft
BasketballPlays professionally for the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury
Ice HockeyGoaltenderPlayed professionally in CWHL for Boston Blades
Ice HockeyForwardIsobel Cup champion
Ice HockeyForwardSilver medalist in women's ice hockey at 2010 Winter Games
Ice HockeyForwardGold medalist in women's ice hockey at 2018 Winter Games
Ice HockeyForward2019 Clarkson Cup champion
Ice HockeyForwardPlays professionally for the Buffalo Beauts
Ice HockeyForwardGold medalist in women's ice hockey at 2018 Winter Games
Ice HockeyForwardPlayed professionally in CWHL for Vanke Rays

Team World

THIS IS AN INCOMPLETE LIST
NameSportPositionWeightNationalityNotes
TennisN/AGold medalist at 2012 Summer Games
TennisN/ARunner-up in mixed doubles at 2015 US Open
GymnasticsN/AGold medalist in Balance Beam at 2016 NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championship
TennisN/ANumber 1 ranking in WTA during September 2017

Athlete Advisory Committee

The Athlete Advisory Committee is chaired by Donna de Varona.
NameTitleNationalityNotes
Tenley AlbrightAdvisory Board MemberMedalist, 1952 and 1956 Winter Games
Doug BealAdvisory Board MemberFormer CEO, USA Volleyball
Jane BlalockAdvisory Board MemberFormer LPGA golfer, Legends Hall of Fame, Founder and CEO of Legends Tour
Nadia ComăneciAdvisory Board Member9-time medalist, 1976 and 1980 Summer Games
Bart ConnerAdvisory Board Member2-time medalist, 1984 Summer Games
Chris EvertAdvisory Board Member18-time Grand Slam Champion
Jackie Joyner KerseeAdvisory Board Member6-time medalist, 1984, 1988, 1992 and 1996 Summer Games
Nancy KerriganChair-Figure Skating2-time medalist, 1992 and 1994 Winter Games Winter Games
Ilana KlossAdvisory Board MemberCEO, World Team Tennis
Marti MalloyAdvisory Board Member1-time Medalist, 2012 Summer Games
Shannon MillerChair-Gymnastics7-time Medalist, 1992 and 1996 Summer Games
Digit MurphyAdvisor Board MemberFormer NCAA coach: Brown Bears, 2-time champion, 2013 and 2015 Clarkson Cup
Judy MurrayAdvisory Board MemberTennis coach, motivational speaker
Monica SelesChair-Tennis9-time Grand Slam Champion
Kelli StackChair-Ice Hockey2-time medalist, 2010 and 2014 Winter Games

Broadcasting

During May 2019, ESPN announced that it was to serve as the exclusive broadcast home for the inaugural Aurora Games.