Cardholders, however, received the best perks. They got customized T-shirts of their fan personalities, wristbands featuring the year they became a WNBA fan, access to chats and meet-and-greeks with Copper and Boston, a dedicated fast lane to enter the three-point contest and skills competition and a 10% discount on most WNBA All-Star merchandise.
“Our partnerships with both the WNBA and NBA are all about showcasing the value of Amex membership and delivering one-of-a-kind experiences and access for our Card Members and basketball fans,” said Kristina Hunt, vp of global brand sponsorship assets, benefits and operations at American Express. “We’re always looking for ways to innovate and show up authentically around basketball culture, and we take learnings from our sponsorships across both leagues as we continue to evolve and activate in meaningful ways for fans.”
Bumble
Bumble picked All-Star Weekend to announce its multi-year deal to become the league’s first-ever official dating app partner.
The company served as the presenting sponsor of the Orange Carpet at WNBA Live but has bigger plans for the league. While this isn’t Bumble’s first time working with athletes—it sponsored 50 women in sports during the 50th anniversary of Title IX in 2023 and paired with injured Los Angeles Sparks rookie Cameron Brink—this partnership offers behind-the-scenes and Bumble in-app content from WNBA athletes, activations at fan events, WNBA-themed meetups and date nights at WNBA games and events.
“Partnering with one of the most renowned organizations in women’s sports, the WNBA, is extremely exciting for us and it exemplifies everything Bumble stands for: empowering and spotlighting women’s stories, helping people make connections over shared values and interests and creating fun and safe experiences to bring our community together offline,” said Lidiane Jones, CEO of Bumble.
DraftKings
Even sports betting has been a somewhat inequitable proposition for women’s sports since the Supreme Court paved the way for national legalization in 2018.
But DraftKings saw growing fan enthusiasm, continued demand in the market and a continued dearth of women’s sports marketing on traditional sportsbook screens. Just before All-Star Weekend, it announced its agreement with the league to become the Official Sports Betting and Daily Fantasy Partner of the WNBA.
