Christina Unkel

Bio

Christina Unkel, J.D, M.B.A is an entrepreneur, legal attorney, multi-business owner, and sports tv analyst/journalist. As a past NCAA collegiate soccer athlete and former FIFA referee, Christina has spent the past 15 years working and performing at the highest professional, international, and collegiate levels of the soccer game among the elite players of the world.

Unkel’s television broadcasting work includes covering the 2019 Women's World Cup at Fox Sports and European Football (UEFA Champions League and Europa League) for CBS HQ and Paramount +. Christina has been announced as the new State Referee Administrator (SRA) for the Florida State Referee Committee (FLSRC). Christina is also a journalist for The Athletic and CBS Sports covering referees, the laws of the game, and legal issues in sports.

Unkel’s dedication to professional soccer and equitable opportunity through sports extends beyond the field through a variety of endeavors that have been established under her leadership include:

• Founder of SPARQ Advocacy
• Co-owner of Scorch Fitness
• Co-owner, Scorch on Demand and The Deadlift Effect (mobile apps)
• Founder of Scorch Community, a 501c3 providing athletic, education, and wellness initiatives to underserved teens in Sarasota.

Unkel is a graduate of Palm Beach Atlantic, Stetson MBA Program, and Stetson Law and is the recipient of numerous awards including, Sarasota’s Women of Influence, Best of SRQ Magazine Business Leader and Lawyer, Best of Lawyers in Tampa Bay, Sarasota County Bar’s Presidents Award, and PBA’s Top 50 Alumni. She has held several chair and committee positions in her legal and sports capacities and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the International Women’s Forum (Suncoast Chapter) and active member of the Women in Sports and Events “WISE”.