While the Phoenix Suns (nightmare season) and Phoenix Mercury (Diana Taurasi’s retirement) have had their fair share of challenges on the court this past year, Matt Ishbia — who bought the teams in February 2023 — continues to stack up wins off-the-court to benefit the Phoenix community at-large.

We love that local sports franchises and a healthcare organization are joining forces to not only identify a gap, but also strategically fill it. It’s a great example of how diverse stakeholders can work together to democratize access to the sports ecosystem as a whole — in this instance, specialized healthcares service and health equity for young athletes.

Another bonus: it’s easy to quantify the direct, tangible impact from this partnership. The long-term commitment creates opportunities to show progress, and potentially even bring additional partners or funding into the mix in the future. It’s a solid blueprint for building a stronger, healthier next generation of athletes in the Valley, while also deepening the fans’ bond with both teams. That’s what we call a WIN | WIN.

YOUR NEXT PLAY:

“To move forward, give back” is the mantra that all entities in the sports industry should follow. Given the reach and influence of professional sport teams on mainstream culture, they have a responsibility to assist their community. And as their partners, we do, too.