Connecting Opportunities to Student-Athletes and Resources to Families!
a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization
2025 RECAP
In 2025, our first full year of operations, we built our foundation and delivered meaningful impact.
is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports student-athletes and their families through athlete readiness and safe development, academic and life skills support, parent guidance and one-on-one consultation, mentorship connections, dignity-centered wellness initiatives, and strong community partnerships.
Everything we do leads back to one goal:
Connecting opportunities to student-athletes and resources to families.
The Problem We’re Solving
Student-athletes and their families often lack access to structured academic planning, NIL education, and clear youth sports guidance. Without trusted support, student-athletes risk burnout, missed opportunities, and academic setbacks.
2 Sports Moms bridges that gap by connecting families to student-athlete resources, community programs, and strategic guidance nationwide.
While sports remain a critical tool for youth development, recent data show clear declines in participation.
Low-income children are especially affected.
A study of 7th-8th grade students, found when parents were involved both in sport and education.
Our 1st-Year Impact!
What Makes Us Different
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Lived Experience Over Theory
We aren't just consultants; we are sports moms who have navigated the elite student-athlete pipeline. We provide the "real-world" playbook for the logistics, costs, and emotional pressures families actually face.
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Support for the Decision-Makers
Most programs focus only on the player. We intentionally equip the parents and caregivers. We believe that when the "team behind the athlete" is empowered, the athlete’s long-term success is guaranteed.
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The "Whole-Athlete" Ecosystem
We look beyond the scoreboard. By integrating mental wellness, academic readiness, and dignity-centered initiatives (like our ACE Bags), we develop the person, not just the performer.
Parent Spotlight
Parent Spotlight · May 2026
Alicia Rodriguez-Barrera
3
Sons
4
Languages
Elite 8
March Madness
New York · NCAA Basketball, NCAA Football, Northwestern University
This section is dedicated to YOU.
You aren’t just “the ride”, you are the foundation of your student-athlete’s success.
This month, we are thrilled to feature Alicia Rodriguez-Barrera. Alicia has navigated the student-athlete journey with her three sons, each taking a unique path, from NCAA Division I basketball and professional play overseas to coaching the next generation and pursuing excellence in music and linguistics.
Her Advice
"Encourage your children to explore interests outside of sports — music, travel, languages. Those experiences make better athletes."
Key Lesson
"Young men need someone who allows them to be vulnerable. Nothing like a mother bringing them back to reality."
2SM
Tell us about your children and the different paths they’re exploring, what do you admire most about each of them?
Alicia
I have three sons, grown men now actually, and each of them has taken a very different path.
My oldest, Ismael, is 26 and played Division I basketball at Kansas State University, where his team made it to the Elite 8 during March Madness, which was an incredible experience for our family. He later transferred to Georgetown University for graduate school, earned his Master’s degree, and now plays professional basketball overseas. He has played in Georgia, Spain, and currently in Cairo, Egypt. What I admire most about him is his maturity and positive outlook on life. No matter the highs or lows, he always finds the silver lining.
My middle son, Sofian, is 24 and played NCAA football and graduated last year from the University of Mary in North Dakota. Football has always been his passion, and now he’s pouring that passion back into the next generation by coaching with the Harlem Jets and at Fordham Preparatory School. I admire how deeply he understands and studies the game. He can tell you the names of commentators from old football broadcasts like it happened yesterday. It’s honestly impressive.
My youngest, Zakariah, is 20 and completely carved out his own lane. We tried every sport imaginable, but athletics just wasn’t his thing. Music was. He plays the violin and is graduating this year from Northwestern University. What I admire most about him is his curiosity and love of learning. He taught himself Korean at a young age and now speaks four languages. He’s artistic, adventurous, and constantly pushing himself outside of his comfort zone, including traveling alone internationally to teach English.
2SM
What has been one of the most meaningful lessons you’ve learned while supporting your child(ren) along their journey?
Alicia
I believe that boys and young men need to feel like there is someone who allows them to be vulnerable and have feelings. They are under lots of pressure to "act like men" and "be strong" especially when they are playing high level sports. They have to be able to feel they have someone with whom they can be honest, open, sad, and everything in between. And the other way around, having someone to be honest to them. They are also constantly praised and that can also affect their ego so nothing like a mother bringing them back to reality and making them do chores at home regardless of how many points they have scored. Lol. Keeping them grounded is extremely important.
2SM
What is one challenge you’ve faced along the journey, and how did you navigate it?
Alicia
One of the biggest challenges is choosing the right school and coaching environment. Families often focus only on rankings or athletic success, but fit matters just as much. You have to think about the coaching style, academics, culture, and how your child will develop as a person long after sports are over.
When Ismael transferred for graduate school, he had several options. Ultimately, we looked beyond basketball and considered the long-term value of the opportunity. Earning a Master’s degree from Georgetown was something that would continue to matter long after his playing career.
2SM
What advice would you share with another parent just starting their student-athlete journey?
Alicia
Raise well-rounded human beings, not just athletes. It’s easy for sports to become their entire identity, but that can eventually lead to stress and burnout. Encourage your children to explore other interests outside of sports, whether that’s music, volunteering, learning languages, traveling, or community involvement.
Those experiences help shape confident, balanced young people. Ironically, they often become better student-athletes because of it. The goal should never just be athletic success. The goal is helping your child become the best version of themselves.
Donnamarie Butts Rowley (DBR)
2 Sports Moms spoke to Donnamarie Butts Rowley, an incredible sports mom who, along with her husband, made the brave decision to send their son, Isaiah, from Trinidad to the U.S. to pursue golf and academics.
Her story is a powerful reminder that sometimes supporting your athlete means making hard choices, trusting the process, and leaning on your village.
2 Sports Moms: What led you to send Isaiah to the United States?
DBR: Isaiah shared from an early age that he wanted to play golf professionally. We knew that in Trinidad and Tobago there weren’t enough opportunities to truly develop his game, coaching, tournament access, and consistent competition were limited. So as a family, we made the decision to send him to the U.S. where he could grow both as a golfer and as a student.
2 Sports Moms: How do you balance life as a mom of a student-athlete, especially from afar?
DBR: It’s honestly a roller coaster. Not being physically there to support him is hard, and we have to depend on the academy and the “village” around him to help carry him through this journey. Some days it’s a mental fight, but I stay focused on doing my best to support him, motivate him, and remind him why we started.
Donnamarie’s story is for every parent doing the most, whether you’re in the stands, in the carpool line, or supporting from another country. You don’t have to do it alone.
THE PARENT PLAYBOOK SERIES: JUNE 3
Join 2 Sports Moms for the first conversation in our new Parent Playbook Series, a virtual education platform created to support families navigating the student-athlete journey.
Our upcoming session,
“From Youth to College: A Football Parent Conversation,”
will feature an incredible panel of parents :
David “Big Dave” Uiagalelei
Andrea Talbert
Lauren Johnson
Laverna Tracy
sharing real experiences, lessons learned, and insight from navigating the elite student-athlete journey.
📅 June 3, 2026
🕖 7:00 PM EST
🌐 Virtual Event
🔗 Registration Required
Mind, Body & Ball Clinic
In partnership with
Thurgood Marshall Academy, Pride Family Services,
and Harlem Hospital Center,
2 Sports Moms and our athletic development division,
5th Quarter,
proudly present the
Mind, Body & Ball Clinic
a holistic experience designed to support the development of female student-athletes both on and off the court.
Throughout the day, participants will engage in basketball skill development, wellness and mindset activities, and conversations centered on nutrition, fueling, and recovery. The clinic is designed to empower girls physically, mentally, and emotionally while reinforcing the importance of confidence, discipline, self-care, and overall wellness.
We will close the day with a powerful panel discussion moderated by Chiené Joy Jones, featuring current and former college athletes sharing their real-world journeys, lessons learned, challenges, and experiences navigating athletics, academics, wellness, and personal growth.
A HEARTFELT THANK YOU
First, a huge thank you to everyone who attended and celebrated our 1-Year Anniversary with us! It was such a special evening, and we are so grateful for the community that has grown around our mission over this past year.
Here’s to many more!
2 Sports Moms officially launches the CORE Bag. More than just a bag, but a reminder that male student-athletes deserve access to the essentials that help them show up confidently every single day.
The CORE Bag was created with purpose to pour into communities, support young men on and off the field, and make wellness and care accessible beyond the game. Because when you have the right tools, you move differently.
We’re actively looking to partner with schools, sports organizations, community programs, and teams that want to bring CORE Bags to their athletes. If you’re passionate about supporting our mission, reach out to us!
Student-Athlete and Family Resources
We provide:
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Academic planning for student-athletes
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NIL education for high school athletes
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Parent support for youth sports decisions
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Community partnerships and mentorship programs
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Leadership and life-skills development
OUR PARTNERS
We believe every partner is a valuable long-term family member.
