Mystics Courtside: Yes, Chef!
The 7th Annual Awards
- Best Use of Culture, Music, or Entertainment
ABOUT THIS ENTRY
In this segment fans experience an exclusive encounter between Mystics players and world-famous celebrity Chef, Gordon Ramsay. Ramsay opened a new pizza restaurant in Washington D.C. and invited the Mystics to come take part in a pop-a-shot challenge and taste some bites off the menu.
How does this represent "Excellence in Engagement"?
This segment pushes the boundaries of a cultural crossover. One might not think of a professional sports team and a celebrity chef as a natural pairing. But through the opening of Ramsay’s new restaurant in DC and the fact that it has a pop-a-shot basketball hoop there was some common ground to be able to have a successful crossover that benefits both parties. This will inspire other fun features between sports teams and celebrity guests that might be surprising, yet extremely entertaining and fun to watch!
Objective
Mystics Courtside is a magazine series providing exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the WNBA's Washington Mystics. The series launched in the spring/summer of 2024, during a banner year for women's basketball. The objective of this series is to give fans a level of access to these elite athletes as they’ve never seen them before.
In this segment fans experience an exclusive encounter between Mystics players and world-famous celebrity Chef, Gordon Ramsay. Ramsay opened a new pizza restaurant in Washington D.C. and invited the Mystics to come take part in a pop-a-shot challenge and taste some bites off the menu. The goal of documenting this exchange was to have cross promotion between foodies and basketball fans. Mystics fans are now aware of Ramsay’s new restaurant in the District and can check it out before or after games, and foodies are reminded that they should check out a Mystics game as something to do in DC.
Strategy & Execution
The modern sports fan does not just want to know the stats of their favorite players. They want to know what their personalities are like, what they think about the latest viral trend, even what they eat on a daily basis. This segment digs into the culture surrounding the WNBA and the celebrity status of Chef Gordon Ramsay. Mystics fans get to see their favorite players be star struck and excited to meet their own celebrity hero.
Organizations
- Washington Mystics
Links
Featured
- Gordon Ramsay – Celebrity Chef
- Stefanie Dolson – Mystics Player
- Brittney Sykes – Mystics Player
- Aaliyah Edwards – Mystics Player
- Karlie Samuelson – Mystics Player
Credits
Jim Kowats
Executive Producer
Monumental Sports and Entertainment
David Konschnik
Series Producer
Monumental Sports and Entertainment
Pavani Srinivasan
Producer
Monumental Sports and Entertainment
Arthur Binkowski
Editor
Monumental Sports and Entertainment
Anne Marie Huntington
Associate Producer
Monumental Sports and Entertainment
Pippa Lincoln Lenderking
Associate Producer
Monumental Sports and Entertainment
Patrick Stump
Assistant Editor
Monumental Sports and Entertainment
Brett Wiley
Director of Photography
Monumental Sports and Entertainment
Chris Olson
Director of Photography
Monumental Sports and Entertainment
Ted Tuel
Director of Photography
Monumental Sports and Entertainment
Aimée Brillhart
Vice President, Production
Monumental Sports and Entertainment
Amy Boyce
Director of Production
Monumental Sports and Entertainment
Alexandra Kreger
Production Manager
Monumental Sports and Entertainment
Scott Silberstein
Sr. Media Manager
Monumental Sports and Entertainment
Delaney Murtaugh
Sr. Manager of Digital Content
Monumental Sports and Entertainment
Favio Claure
Audio Technician
Monumental Sports and Entertainment
Celebrate in NYC
Join us for the 7th Annual Hashtag Sports Awards™ on the evening of June 24, 2025 as we celebrate finalists and reveal the winners of this year's awards live during the show.
