SONIA CHASE
Philanthropist | Former WNBA Player | Globally Awarded Athlete
From the courts of the WNBA and beyond, Sonia Chase continues to inspire and lead communities forward.
- Sign In
- +123 (4567) 890
About Sonia Chase
Sonia Chase is a former WNBA player and globally awarded professional athlete. She is the President and CEO of Chase Your Dreams Academy, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that provides year round out-of school-time (OST) programs, workshops, and activities to youth in high need and underserved communities.
Chase formerly served as the U.S. Sponsorships Operations Manager for Deloitte’s Marketing practice. She led operations, analytics, and on/off-site logistics serving clients that represented over $4.9B in business to Deloitte, while managing a world-class sports sponsorship portfolio including USGA, USTA, WNBA, NWSL, USSF, Team USA, Paris 2024 Olympics, LA28, IOC, SoFi Stadium, and the James Beard Foundation. Chase served as the main point of contact for the internal executive team and over 2,000 national client accounts each year.
Sonia Chase was the first female in school history drafted from the University of Maryland College Park to the WNBA and played for the Charlotte Sting and Minnesota Lynx. In the WNBA off-seasons, she played pro basketball in Greece, Turkey, and China solidifying her status as a global athlete. After her WNBA career, Chase was drafted in the first round to the NWBL, played for the Birmingham Power, and was voted as an all-star, totaling nearly 10 years as a pro athlete.
Sonia Chase received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Language and Literature and a Certificate in Women’s Studies. While in college, she earned a gold medal at the USA Basketball Olympic Festival.
HISTORIC TIMELINE
Youth
College Basketball Career
Professional Basketball Career
Professional Career
Youth
- Born on March 9, 1976 in Baltimore, MD to Theodore R. Chase, Jr and Shirley Chase
- At age 5, Sonia’s father introduced her to the sport of basketball
- By age 6, she started playing basketball competitively against all boys while attending the Woodmoor Elementary School After-School Program
- At age 7, she started playing basketball in an all-boys recreation league called the Woodmoor Recreation League
- At age 8, she started playing basketball in an all-girls recreation league called the Liberty Road Girls Basketball program at Campfield Recreation Center
- Sonia competed in the Washington Bullets Dribble and Shoot Contest at age 12 and came in second place
- From ages 8-17, she won many individual and team awards while playing for Campfield Recreation Center
- From ages 8-17, Sonia won Baltimore Neighborhood Basketball League (BNBL) and Project Survival Championships and won many Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards in Baltimore, MD
- Sonia was awarded a grant scholarship to attend McDonogh School, a college preparatory school in Owings Mills, MD from grades 7th-12th (1987-1990)
- In the 7th grade, she received her first college recruiting letter for basketball from Brown University, then Yale University, then Darthmouth, to eventually being on the recruiting radar of every single Ivy League school
- While at McDonogh School, she won MVP, Coaches Award, Prep-Player of the Week, Ms. Basketball, and Rollins-Luetkemeyer Scholar in Baltimore (1990-1994)
- She received recruitment letters from every single university in the United States
- Sonia verbally committed to attend University of Maryland, College Park in 1992 and signed her letter of intent prior to her senior year
College Basketball Career
- While attending the University of Maryland, College Park, Sonia won MVP, Coaches Awards, All-Time Leader in Steals, ACC individual and team awards that still stand in the history books today
- She served as Co-Captain of the Women’s Basketball Team (1996-1998)
- Sonia competed in the Olympic Festival and won a Gold medal in 1995
- Sonia graduated from University of Maryland, College Park with a B.A. in English Language and Literature and Certificate in Women’s Studies in 1998
- Sonia was drafted 37th overall in the fourth round to the WNBA to play for the Charlotte Sting in Charlotte, NC in 1998
- She was reported as first female ever drafted straight from University of Maryland, College Park to the WNBA in the school’s history in 1998
Professional Basketball Career
- Sonia had her WNBA Fleer Skybox card created and printed in 1998
- She played in the WNBA for the Charlotte Sting and Minnesota Lynx (1998-2003)
- In the WNBA offseason, she ventured abroad to play professional basketball in Greece (1999, 2000), Turkey (2001, 2002), and China (2003) from 1999-2003
- Sonia won MVP in Greece (1999, 2000), MVP in Turkey (2001, 2002), and MVP in China (2003)
- She was drafted in the first round to the NWBL to the Birmingham Power in Birmingham, AL in 2005
- Sonia was a Co-Captain on Birmingham Power in 2005
- She was voted as NWBL East all-star in 2005
- Sonia was awarded as an All-Time Maryland Terp in the WNBA (1998-2003)
- She was inducted into the McDonogh School Hall of Fame in 2005
- Sonia played semi-pro basketball in the New York West 4th Street Basketball League and won MVP, All-Star awards, and Championships (2006-2009)
- Sonia retired from professional basketball in 2006
Professional Career
- Sonia worked as a Senior Pharmaceutical Sales Representative at GlaxoSmithKline (2006-2008)
- She worked as a Specialty Pharmaceutical Sales Manager at Forest Laboratories (2008-2010)
- In 2009, she launched Chase Your Dreams, Inc (for-profit) as the President and CEO
- In 2009, Sonia founded Chase Your Dreams Academy [501(c)(3) nonprofit] as the President and CEO
- In 2009, she authored Chase Your Dreams: BFIT, a health and fitness manual written for student-athletes ages 10-17
- In 2009, Sonia partnered with Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) in Prince George’s County and became the first former WNBA player to conduct sports and character enrichment programs for youth ages 6-17
- From 2009-2015, Sonia partnered with M-NCPPC as a contractor conducting basketball and soccer character enrichment spring break, summer camps, and winter break camps as well as year-round basketball clinics in over 10 different community centers in Prince George’s County
- In 2011, she partnered with Nike/US Sports Camps as a contractor and became the first former WNBA player to conduct Nike/US Sports Camps
- Sonia conducted basketball and character enrichment Nike/US Sports Camps during spring break and summer in Maryland, Washington D.C., Virginia, and North Carolina (2011-current)
- In 2012, Sonia was selected as Who’s Who in Black Washington, DC as an “Emerging Leader women Under 40!”
- Sonia served as Transforming Neighborhood Initiative (TNI) Let’s Hoop Commissioner (2012-2014)
- She was honored by Former Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker as TNI Executive Honoree in 2013
- CYDA was awarded the Community Partnership Grant in 2014
- CYDA was awarded the D.C. Promise Neighborhood Initiative (DCPNI) grant from 2013-2016
- CYDA provided programs to youth ages 6-17 in Washington, D.C. Ward 7 Kenilworth/Parkside, Paradise communities, and Cesar Chavez Public Charter School from 2013-2016
- Sonia graduated from Leadership Prince George’s in 2015
- CYDA was awarded a grant from Fair Chance DC to attend the Pathways Program to receive six months of free Capacity Building
- In 2017, Sonia became a licensed REALTOR in Maryland
- In 2017, she was hired into the Experience Hire program as a Senior Consultant at Deloitte
- In 2017, Sonia was awarded a Top Secret/SCI Clearance from the US government
- While at Deloitte from 2017-2021, she worked for high profile government clients such as the IRS, DCSA, Air Force, and FBI to build out their Human Resources and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion divisions
- In 2022, Sonia was promoted to Manager, U.S. Sponsorships Operations at Deloitte to lead operations, analytics, and on/off-site logistics serving clients that represented over $4.9B in business, while managing a world-class sponsorship portfolio including United States Golf Association (USGA), United States Tennis Association (USTA), WNBA, National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), United States Soccer Federation (USSF), Team USA, Paris 2024 Olympics, LA28, IOC, SoFi Stadium, and the James Beard Foundation
- While at Deloitte, Sonia won Deloitte Applause Awards (2017-2024), Incentive Program for Cleared Professionals Outstanding Performer (2018-2020), and Air Force Trials Wounded Warriors Selected Staff (2020)
- In 2024 and beyond, Sonia conducts to conduct Nike/US Sports Camps in Washington, DC., Maryland, and Virginia for spring break (March-April) and summer break (June-August)
Media and Speaking Engagements
Book Sonia Chase
Sonia Chase enjoys sharing her athletic, philanthropic, and business experience to the masses.
Chase is open to appearing or speaking on podcasts, web shows, broadcast, conferences, corporate events and college campuses.
Philanthropy
Learn More About CYDA
Sonia Chase is the President and CEO of Chase Your Dreams Academy, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
Learn more about how organization impacts youth living in high need and underserved communities.