New App Builds a Support Network for Women in Pro Athlete Families
Entrepreneur and Inside Lines podcast host Atoya Burleson has introduced the Ladies Playbook app, a dedicated digital community for women connected to professional athletes. The platform offers mentorship, resources, and a space for members to share their experiences.
Burleson created the app after noticing a lack of tailored support for athlete families. While athletes often receive the spotlight, the women behind them face unique pressures and challenges. Ladies Playbook aims to bridge that gap, giving women access to tools that help them thrive in both personal and family life.
Her vision is for the app to become a trusted space where women can connect with others who understand their journey. Whether through wellness programs, financial resources, or peer support, the app is designed to empower its members to balance ambition with the realities of life in the sports world.
Inspiration from a Life in Sports
Burleson’s inspiration comes from her own 11-year journey alongside her husband in the NFL and her background as a Hall of Fame collegiate athlete. Through these experiences, she saw how often women’s voices in sports were overlooked.
As host of the Inside Lines podcast, she has long created a platform for authentic conversations with women in and around sports. Many of her guests have been athletes or partners of athletes making significant contributions in law, philanthropy, business, and community service.
By spotlighting their achievements, she hopes to encourage more women to share their stories and embrace their potential. The app builds on this mission by giving women a way to connect beyond the microphone and into a supportive community.
Lessons in Entrepreneurship and Community-Building
Launching a tech platform taught Burleson the importance of clarity and strategy. She focused on understanding the specific needs of pro athlete families and building a solution that truly serves them.
She also learned that community-building is about more than offering resources. It requires active engagement, listening to members, and creating spaces for genuine connection. The feedback from early users has already helped shape the platform’s features and direction.
Adaptability has been key, as the tech landscape changes quickly. Burleson is committed to evolving the app based on member needs and industry trends. For her, success comes not just from building a product but from creating a thriving, supportive community.
Building Legacy and Empowerment
Burleson’s work is deeply connected to her family history. She is a direct descendant of Black Wall Street entrepreneurs, with relatives who owned a hotel, a real estate company, and a barbershop. That legacy fuels her passion for economic empowerment.
She sees Ladies Playbook as part of that legacy—helping women in sports communities build financial stability, confidence, and lasting connections. As a mother of three athletes, she understands the importance of passing on both financial resources and the mindset to succeed.
For Burleson, generational wealth is about more than money. It’s about leaving a lasting impact that uplifts the next generation and honors the strength of the women who came before.
