WIN | WIN Wednesday Newsletter: June 25, 2025

This week, in honor of the NBA and NHL drafts, W|W is all about strategic moves. From NFLers playing chess for charity to the ‘NASCAR Day Giveathon,’ and Angel Reese’s hate inspired-philanthropy and apparel line, we were super impressed by the creativity shown across athletes and leagues. But you know us — we still couldn’t resist riffing on other ways to make these initiatives even stronger for the next go-round.

Speaking of Leveling Up, we recently learned about the Every Court Has A Story campaign, which celebrates the importance of neighborhood basketball courts by helping to revitalize them. We love the heart and personality in this project… AND, shocker, we’ve got some ideas for how they can expand their reach and support for next year’s iteration. Hear us out (or just read below) and let us know if you think we’re onto something, or if you’ve got some ideas of your own to throw into the mix.

Last but not least, we head to the NCAA for a very inspiring Mic Drop about the 5th annual Athlete Ally Athlete Activism Summit. Makenzie Fisher, a rising junior on the Villanova Women's Lacrosse team, sums-up her takeaways from the experience, and reminds us all of the incredible opportunity (and responsibility) that sports have for creating a more equitable and inclusive world.

Until next week,
The WIN | WIN Team

-Makenzie Fisher, a rising junior on the Villanova Women's Lacrosse team, on how she was inspired by attending this year’s Athlete Ally Athlete Activism Summit

Earlier this week, W|W founder Cody Damon sat-in on a session at the Hashtag Sports conference about the Every Court Has a Story campaign, a community basketball court revitalization project backed by JDS Sports, Local Hoops, Project Backboard, Play with Purpose, and Victory Creative Group.

The insight behind the initiative is powerful. Neighborhood basketball courts are more than just places for an occasional pickup game — they’re canvasses for conversations, connection, and belonging. They’re were kids play and parents know. But keeping these spaces safe and well-maintained isn’t always on the top of a city’s priority list.

Enter Every Court Has a Story.

Now in its third year, the campaign-slash-contest encourages communities from all over the country to “nominate a basketball court that holds a special place in your heart but needs much-deserved attention and care,” with the winning submission receiving a full refurbishment — including an incredible display of local pride and energy through a custom-painted full-court mural.

Right now, only one court a year is able to win this kind of superstar makeover. (We imagine it’s a pretty expensive project to take on.) But what if…

What if a big name brand, like Sherwin Williams (they’re in the paint, y’all) were to join-in on the effort, and help make more revitalizations possible while also boosting their social impact visibility? What if more courts were able to reclaim their roles as focal points for community and belonging — physical spaces where neighbors come together for a run on a hot summer day, or gather at the Saturday morning farmers market? We’re in for all of it.

The Home Depot would be another fantastic fit, with their existing connection to the sports industry through Arthur Blank’s ownership of the Atlanta Falcons and United, and one of their core audiences being DIY remodelers. Specialty muralist brands, like Novocolor or Montana Colors, would also be a great fit for sparking a dialogue around the different forms of self-expression made possible through neighborhood hoops. Or what about Moolah Kicks, a brightly-colored basketball sneaker line made by and for women athletes? Brands like these have their own stories to tell, too, and bringing them together with Every Court has a Story would be a major opportunity for everyone to shine.

Beyond the remodels themselves, we’d love to see Slam Magazine, also owned by JDS Sports (one of the project’s funders), launch a content series with feature stories on the most compelling submissions, as well as the winner — bringing more awareness to the campaign and to the local communities involved, while also driving readership and engagement. (Picture it: short docu-style videos, BTS photo essays, social content and online articles from local players’ POVs, even cover art by the muralists who paint the actual courts…)

We’d be stoked to see an initiative like this, that’s already Leveling-Up critical community spaces, get corporate support to create even more widespread impact. And of course, we’d be extra-stoked for WIN | WIN to help make it happen.

If you’re passionate about making a difference, AND have a story to tell about the power of sports to create positive social change, we want to amplify your voice — and your impact — by sharing your story.

Got breaking news at the intersection of sports and social impact? Share it with WIN | WIN first for access to our dedicated audience of insiders.