Building off of last year’s installation which was an Instagrammable blend of a crystal-adorned basketball hoop, fragrance bar and throne, this year’s installation came in much larger and surprised fans with a regal appearance from Wilson herself. As Mielle enters a team sponsorship with the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream and tells the story of player-turned-owner Renee Montgomery, it continues approaching the partnership with an unwavering standard of excellence.
“The genesis of it was about making sure that Mielle is a brand that is looking to serve the underserved,” Goff said. “We wanted to make sure that we were highlighting the beauty and the diversity of that in women’s basketball.”
Aflac and Togethxr
Aflac was active during the NCAA’s women’s March Madness tournament and heard the arguments about athlete equity then.
For this year’s WNBA All-Star event, Aflac chipped in $55,000 bonuses to the winners of the WNBA Starry 3-Point Contest and the Kia WNBA Skills Challenge. The winners of the NBA versions of each contest get $60,000 and $55,000 respectively, so Aflac’s $110,000 gets the WNBA much closer to that line. Aflac also teamed with media company Togethxr for a Queens of the Court panel discussion moderated by ESPN’s Andraya Carter featuring WNBA standouts Arike Ogunbowale, Aliyah Boston and Skylar Diggins-Smith, as well as South Carolina coach and Hall of Famer Dawn Staley.
It was part of a busy weekend for Togethxr, which also joined the mental health media community Mente in hosting a two-day wellness festival that included mobile nail experiences, affirmation stations, CBD sips, guided meditations, sound baths, food, drinks and a game watch party with VIP drop-ins.
Togethxr also partnered with the Golden State Valkyries WNBA expansion franchise to produce versions of its Everyone Watches Women’s Sports shirts in the team’s proprietary shade of Valkyrie Violet—with Ted Lasso’s Jason Sudeikis putting one on during a guest appearance. Finally, Togethxr hosted Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe’s live installment of their “A Touch More” podcast, recently purchased by Vox Media and featuring Aubrey Plaza and University of Connecticut star Paige Bueckers discussing the rise of women’s basketball.
