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Debbie Antonelli as Keynote Speaker for 2025 Women in Business Signature Event

Staff Report From Georgia CEO

Friday, September 12th, 2025

The Augusta Metro Chamber is honored to welcome nationally acclaimed basketball analyst Debbie Antonelli as the keynote speaker for the 2025 Women in Business Signature Event, Champions On and Off the Court. Join us on Tuesday, October 21, at The Bell Auditorium. Doors open at 6:00 p.m.

Antonelli brings a powerhouse perspective on preparation, performance, and leadership drawn from nearly four decades on the national stage. Now in her 38th year calling college basketball for ESPN and CBS, she has covered the NCAA Men’s Tournament on CBS for the past nine seasons. Her career excellence has been recognized with induction into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame (2022), the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame (2021), and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as the 2024 Curt Gowdy Media Award recipient. A two-time Emmy Award winner, she covers WNBA games for ESPN and NBATV and has been the lead play-by-play voice of the Indiana Fever since the team’s inaugural season in 2000.

A former NC State guard, Antonelli was a three-year starter and two-time captain, helping the Wolfpack to four NCAA Tournament appearances, two Sweet 16s, two ACC regular season titles, and one ACC Tournament championship. In January 2025, NC State elevated her legacy with a Ring of Honor banner at Reynolds Coliseum. In May 2025, the City of Mount Pleasant dedicated the Debbie Antonelli Gymnasium (“The Deb”) in her honor.
 
Beyond broadcasting, Antonelli’s leadership extends into philanthropy. Inspired by her middle son, Frankie, who lives with Down syndrome, she founded “24 Hours Nothing But Net,” a 24-hour free-throw marathon that has raised over $1.4 million for Special Olympics in seven years, while sustaining a 93% free-throw percentage across that span. She also serves on multiple nonprofit boards, including the Kay Yow Cancer Fund and Special Olympics South Carolina. Antonelli resides in Mount Pleasant, SC with her husband, Frank, and their three sons—Joey, Frankie, and Patrick.
 
The Women In Business Signature Event begins at 6 pm. Tickets are $75 for Chamber members, $100 for prospective members. Corporate tables available at a discounted rate. Advanced registration required at https://www.augustametrochamber.com/events/women-in-business-2025-signature-event. For more information and sponsorship opportunities, contact the Augusta Metro Chamber’s Events & Marketing Manager, Emma Jones, at [email protected] or 706.821.1318.

The Augusta Metro Chamber Women In Business Signature Event is one of the largest, high-profile events of the year. It is a celebration of our Women In Business program mission, to bring together, support and empower the professional women in our business community. Each year, a nationally renowned speaker who exemplifies “High Heels in High Places” is invited to share their story and inspire the audience.