New York, NY (My Sportsbook) - Donna Orender has been named President of the WNBA, effective this April, NBA Commissioner David Stern announced Tuesday.

The senior vice president of the PGA Tour, Orender takes the position vacated by the league's founding president Val Ackerman, who announced her retirement after eight seasons in October, 2004.

Orender has been involved with the PGA Tour for the last 17 years where she has overseen worldwide management of PGA television and production, advertising, brand management and integration. Among those tasks, she was also in charge of the PGA Tour's new media and Internet business.

"Our search for a candidate to follow and capitalize on Val Ackerman's extraordinary tenure quickly focused on Donna," Stern said. "She combines a background, knowledge, and passion for the sport of basketball with a record of demonstrated expertise and success in every aspect of the business of sports: television, marketing, sponsorship and new media."

"I am thrilled to return to the sport of basketball which has taught me so much and has assisted me in developing the skills necessary to succeed in the world of business," said Orender, who was an All-American basketball player at Queens College of New York and played professionally in the Women's Basketball League.