Women's basketball is having its biggest cultural moment in a generation—and on July 23, that momentum will be channeled directly into the fight against cancer. Ahead of the 30th Annual WNBA All-Star Weekend, WNBA legends, media leaders and celebrity chefs will converge at avec River North in Chicago for "Full Court Press: Legends," a curated day of programming that culminates in Culinary Tip-Off, an exclusive evening experience and silent auction benefiting the V Foundation for Cancer Research.
For food, beverage and hospitality professionals, it's a masterclass in what purpose-driven experiential events can look like when sports celebrity, elite culinary talent and philanthropy are engineered to work together. The mission: advance the V Foundation's pursuit of Victory Over Cancer® while honoring the legacy of the late ESPN anchor Stuart Scott.
A Full Day of Storytelling, Mentorship and Legacy
The programming is built around storytelling, mentorship and legacy-building in women's basketball—with the influence of sport harnessed to drive awareness and funding for cancer research.
- Voices of the Game — An exclusive luncheon and expert panel moderated by Syd Scott, featuring sports-media leaders Ari Chambers (ESPN), Elle Duncan (Netflix), LaChina Robinson (NBC Sports, Prime) and Coach Jackie (Content Creator), spotlighting career journeys and opportunities for the next generation of sports journalists.
- Legends Lounge — A live taping of the Good Game with Sarah Spain podcast, featuring never-before-heard stories from WNBA icons including Ticha Penicheiro, Sheryl Swoopes and others on the legacy, evolution and future of the league.
- The "Next Up" Award — In a historic passing-of-the-torch moment, Hall of Famer Ticha Penicheiro will present the inaugural award to NCAA superstar Hannah Hidalgo, who recently broke several of Penicheiro's longstanding collegiate records.
- Culinary Tip-Off — The evening finale: a hosted experience and silent auction bringing together legendary women athletes, broadcasters and chefs.
"This event is a powerful example of what can happen when the sports community comes together with purpose. 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®," said V Foundation for Cancer Research CEO Brandi Williams Broome.
The Culinary Lineup: Chicago's Best on One Plate
The Culinary Tip-Off finale, hosted by Ticha Penicheiro, puts serious culinary firepower on display. Cuisine comes from celebrity Chef Stephanie Izard—the James Beard Award winner, 2017 Iron Chef, and first woman to win Bravo's Top Chef, whose empire includes Girl & the Goat, Little Goat, Duck Duck Goat, Cabra and Lucky Goat—alongside Chef Dylan Patel and Chef Tracey Shepos Cenami.
The beverage program is equally stacked. Elite wines pour from Shafer Vineyards, Double Diamond, Lingua Franca, Mt. Veeder, Bricoleur Vineyards, Harvey & Harriet, Deldon Wines and Jackson Family Wines, while premium spirits include KAPA Napa Valley Vodka, Wilde Irish Gin, High West Whiskey and Casa Noble Tequila. It's a blueprint for how a high-end wine-and-spirits roster can elevate a philanthropic event and deepen brand engagement.
Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Next Generation
The 30th anniversary framing gives the event added weight—a chance to honor the pioneers who built women's basketball as the league reaches a new commercial peak.
"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," said Ticha Penicheiro, the evening's host and a prominent agent with Priority Sports.
"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. It's simple. They're choosing to do good where it is needed. I admire that tremendously... Cancer is our antagonist, and this storytelling saves lives," said Syd Scott.
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 investigators dedicated to cancer research. Since its 1993 founding by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano, the V Foundation has awarded more than $458 million in competitive cancer research grants, with 100% of direct donations funding research and programs.
The series was created and curated by experiential agencies 88 Vines Entertainment and The Delisle Group's Culinary Kickoff, along with Pen Ken, Sports Management Producer and author of the HarperCollins hit children's book series Legends Of Hip Hop. Event sponsors include Priority Sports & Entertainment, Brand Innovators, Teal Health, Stanley 1913, Constellation Brands, Sheen Magazine and NABJ Chicago.
Why It Matters
For hospitality operators, event producers and beverage brands, Culinary Tip-Off Chicago is a live case study in cause-driven experiential marketing—the kind of multi-pillar programming that turns a single dinner into an all-day cultural touchpoint. The takeaways are practical:
- Timing is leverage. Anchoring an event to a major moment—here, WNBA All-Star Weekend and the league's 30th anniversary—delivers built-in audience, media attention and sponsor appetite. Operators should map their calendars to the tentpole events already drawing their target guests.
- Women's sports is an underpriced marketing channel. As interest in the WNBA surges, brands aligning with women athletes now are buying into rising cultural equity. F&B and hospitality players looking for fresh partnership territory should take note.
- Premium F&B is the draw, not the afterthought. Marquee chefs and a curated wine-and-spirits roster are what convert a fundraiser into a ticket worth buying—and a reason for brands to activate.
For chefs, sommeliers and beverage brands specifically, lending talent to a well-produced philanthropic showcase builds goodwill, generates content and puts your product in front of an affluent, engaged crowd—all while supporting a cause that resonates.
Get Involved
Tickets and event details are available through 88 Vines Entertainment. For more on how hospitality leaders are rethinking beverage programs and event strategy, explore our coverage of the new economics of craft beverage programs and how the culinary community rallies around community causes.
Will you be at Culinary Tip-Off Chicago—or planning a cause-driven event of your own? Weigh in below and tell us how you're pairing food, beverage and purpose.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine’s “Top 40 Under 40” for founding American Wholesale Floral. Politz is also the founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
