Sam Garofalo

Board term: 2026-present

Sam Garofalo is a Senior Director and WNBA Basketball Strategy & Analytics Lead at the NBA league office, where she helps shape the future of the game through data-driven strategy and innovation. A proud double Hoo with a bachelor’s degree in statistics and a master’s degree in data science from the University of Virginia, she has spent nearly a decade leading analytics initiatives across the NBA and WNBA. Her work spans competition design, schedule optimization, replay and officiating innovation, and technology integration aimed at improving player health, game integrity, and fan engagement. Garofalo has overseen projects including the rollout of the WNBA’s first optical tracking system and the modernization of the WNBA schedule process. She regularly advises league leadership on strategic initiatives related to league growth & expansion, the rules of the game, and emerging technology while serving as a key liaison between NBA and WNBA League Operations to shape the future of the game.