Welcome to the first edition of the WIN | WIN Wednesday Newsletter. It’s a big day for everyone here at W|W, and for so many athletes, teams, leagues, fans, and orgs around the sports world, too.
NCAA March Madness just wrapped up with a few incredible championship games, the NHL and NBA seasons are headed towards the playoffs, new leagues like Grand Slam Track are popping up everywhere you look. And you know what? We love all of it, because it means more opportunities for sports newbies, leaders, and legends to make a positive social impact.
In this week’s NL, we’re showcasing newly minted NCAA Champion Paige Beuckers’ ongoing commitment to community support, a heartwarming Mic Drop from a school where Scottie Barnes made a surprise donation, and a few other stories from youth soccer to WNBA mentors. We’ve also snuck-in a lil’ meet-and-greet video with Cody Damon, founder of WIN | WIN, so you can get to know the team behind all the great content you’re about to enjoy.
And, if you haven’t taken our subscriber survey, now’s a great time to do it. The more you share about your fav teams, social impact initiatives, and what kind of stories matter most, the more we’ll be able to make sure our content always hits the mark.
Enough talk up here — let’s dive into the real stuff!
WIN OF THE WEEK
Photo source: Alex Kormann / Star Tribune
UConn’s Paige Bueckers' NIL Play:
Boosting Youth Sports
Long before Bueckers and her Huskies won the 2025 Championship on Sunday, the NCAA (and soon to be WNBA) star’s use of her NIL earnings to support local communities and youth sports initiatives proved she wasn’t taking her influence for granted. Now that she’s got even more accolades behind her, Bueckers has the potential to set a whole new level of expectations for college athletes in the social impact space. We can’t wait to see what’s next for her in the W.
Scottie Barnes Surprises Toronto School with $50K to Keep Its Doors Open
“This is definitely something he didn’t have to do. So, the fact that he not only felt for us, but put actions behind that feeling…is really just a testament of the remarkable young man he is.”
This Week’s Spotlight: Community Programs
Chasing instant results from your social impact efforts can be pretty tempting. But the teams and orgs behind these recent community-based collabs know there’s an even bigger long-term payoff ahead.
What Else We’re Following
Last month, GoDaddy and ASU (Arizona State University) joined forces to launch the Student Athlete Venture Studio, a program offering students mentorship, education, and support in using NIL as a stepping stone to becoming entrepreneurs. We’re stoked about the idea of helping these kids build a future beyond the game, and we’ll be keeping an eye out to see what winning ideas take shape. 💡
If you’re the parent of a young athlete (like several of us on the W|W team), the Youth Sports Business Report has a great resource section for navigating the ups and downs of competitive play. From tips on preventing injuries to understanding NIL deals, it’s definitely worth a peek. 👀
We’ve been loving all the events, conversations, and connections happening over on LaunchBreak, a professional networking and mentorship community for former and current female collegiate athletes. Pop in, introduce yourself to the crew, and make sure to say hi to our Chief Brand Officer, Amy Small, while you’re there. 👋
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