The day will spotlight storytelling, mentorship and legacy-building within women’s basketball, while harnessing the influence of sports to drive awareness and funding for groundbreaking cancer research.
“This event is a powerful example of what can happen when the sports community comes together with purpose,” said V Foundation for Cancer Research CEO Brandi Williams Broome. “The energy and influence throughout the WNBA community provides an incredible opportunity to shine a light on the urgent need for cancer research funding while honoring the legacy of Stuart Scott. Every conversation, every connection and every dollar raised helps advance groundbreaking research that is saving lives and bringing us closer to Victory Over Cancer®.”
Programming will open with Voices of the Game, an exclusive luncheon and expert panel moderated by Syd Scott. The conversation will feature leading voices in sports media – Ari Chambers (ESPN), Elle Duncan (Netflix), LaChina Robinson (NBC Sports, Prime) and Coach Jackie (Content Creator) – focusing on stories of their career journeys and expanding opportunities for the next generation of sports journalists.
The afternoon continues with Legends Lounge, a live taping of the Good Game with Sarah Spain podcast, featuring unfiltered, never before heard stories from and conversations with WNBA icons including Ticha Penicheiro, Sheryl Swoopes, and others on the legacy, evolution, and future of the league they helped build.
Next, in a historic passing of the torch moment, WNBA Legend Ticha Penicheiro will present the inaugural “Next Up” Award to NCAA superstar Hannah Hidalgo, who recently broke several of Penicheiro’s longstanding collegiate records. Penicheiro, a Hall of Famer, WNBA champion, and one of the best point guards of all time, will honor Hidalgo, widely recognized as the best two-way player in college basketball, who has mirrored Ticha’s defensive tenacity and playmaking prowess.
The day will culminate with Culinary Tip-Off, an exclusive evening experience and silent auction hosted by Hall of Famer Ticha Penicheiro, bringing together legendary women athletes, broadcasters, and chefs. This event features cuisine from celebrity Chef Stephanie Izard, Chef Dylan Patel, and Chef Tracey Shepos Cenami, elite wines from Shafer Vineyards, Double Diamond, Lingua Franca, Mt. Veeder, Bricoleur Vineyards, Harvey & Harriet, Deldon Wines, Jackson Family Wines, and premium spirit brands KAPA Napa Valley Vodka, Wilde Irish Gin, High West Whiskey, and Casa Noble Tequila, blending culinary excellence with community impact. Sponsors of the event series include Priority Sports & Entertainment, Brand Innovators, Teal Health, Stanley 1913, Constellation Brands, Sheen Magazine, and NABJ Chicago.
The event has been created and curated by experiential agencies and event producers 88 Vines Entertainment and The Delisle Group’s Culinary Kickoff, along with Pen Ken, Sports Management Producer and author of the Harper Collins hit Children’s Book series Legends Of Hip Hop. Proceeds benefit the V Foundation’s Stuart Scott Memorial Cancer Research Fund, which supports innovative research focused on improving outcomes in cancers that disproportionately affect certain populations and expanding the pipeline of outstanding investigators dedicated to cancer research.
“It’s meaningful to my family to see the WNBA community rally behind the V Foundation for Cancer Research and the Stuart Scott Memorial Cancer Research Fund,” said Syd Scott. “It’s simple. They’re choosing to do good where it is needed. I admire that tremendously. It shows that when strife in our world arises, we arise to meet it in kind. That lesson, which I’ve learned from so many athletes and journalists, is what we’ll be spreading during this event. Cancer is our antagonist, and this storytelling saves lives.”
Ticha Penicheiro, the evening’s host and a prominent agent with Priority Sports, commented, “As someone who had the privilege of playing in the WNBA and witnessing its growth firsthand, celebrating the league’s 30th Anniversary is a reminder of how far women’s basketball has come and of the pioneers who helped build the foundation for today’s athletes. It’s an opportunity to honor the past, celebrate the present, and inspire the next generation of women in sports.”
Together, these events will highlight the collective power of community to inspire action and advance lifesaving cancer research. To learn more and purchase tickets, visit https://88vines.com/full-court-press%3A-legends.
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About the V Foundation for Cancer Research
Founded in 1993 by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano, legendary North Carolina State University basketball coach, ESPN commentator and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, the V Foundation for Cancer Research has awarded more than $458 million in competitive cancer research grants across North America, guided by a world-class Scientific Advisory Committee. With administrative costs fully covered by its endowment, 100% of all direct donations fund cancer research and programs. The V Foundation is committed to funding the best scientists to accelerate Victory Over Cancer® and save lives. For more information, visit https://www.v.org.
About 88 Vines Entertainment
88 Vines Entertainment is a premier boutique event production, talent management, and experiential agency. Specializing in the intersection of live entertainment, premium culinary arts, professional sports, elite wine and spirits, and high-impact philanthropy, they design immersive, multi-pillar experiences where luxury hospitality meets purposeful connection. From concept to execution, they transform complex visions into seamless, unforgettable realities for elite brands, talent, and audiences alike.
About Culinary Kickoff
The Culinary Kickoff™ is a premier celebrity hospitality and networking event series that blends the worlds of professional sports, fine dining, and entertainment. Founded by The Delisle Group, these uniquely curated galas occur during major sporting and live entertainment events creating the perfect recipe to ‘kick off’ a big event weekend.
About Ticha Penicheiro
Widely revered as one of the greatest and most charismatic point guards in WNBA history. Over a brilliant 15-season WNBA career, she redefined the position with her signature flash, elite defensive tenacity, and masterful no-look passing, ultimately becoming a WNBA Champion in 2005 and a member of the WNBA’s 25th Anniversary Team. Penicheiro was deservingly inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019 and the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2025. Today, she continues to shape the future of the sport as a prominent sports executive, serving as a top agent and VP of the Women’s Sports Division at Priority Sports.
About Chef Stephanie Izard
Recipient of the James Beard Award Best Chef: Great Lakes and Food & Wine Best New Chef, Izard is the Executive Chef and Owner of Girl & the Goat, Little Goat, Duck Duck Goat, Cabra, and Lucky Goat in Chicagoland, along with Girl & the Goat and Valley Goat in California. She won the coveted title of Iron Chef in 2017, and was the first woman to win Bravo’s Top Chef. Izard has made numerous appearances, as both a competitor and a judge, on shows including Tournament of Champions, Hell’s Kitchen, Superchef Grudge Match, Guy’s Grocery Games, Chopped, and more.
About Teal Health
Teal Health, a sponsor of the events, is the women’s health trailblazer behind the first FDA-authorized at-home cervical cancer screening. The company is on a mission to eliminate cervical cancer in the U.S. by making life-saving preventive care comfortable, convenient, and accessible to all.
Media Contact:
Alexandra Paterson
the V Foundation for Cancer Research
[email protected]
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