Earlier this week, the Minnesota Lynx announced a unique and amazing partnership with Grammy award-winning group, Bon Iver. The reason why it may seem so out of leftfield is because it is. As usual, the Lynx organization are trailblazers and have become the first professional women’s sports franchise to directly partner with a recording artist to focus on community impact.
Lynx captain Napheesa Collier and Bon Iver lead singer Justin Vernon appeared on ESPN to talk about this joint venture.
This will be a multi-year partnership where the goal is to help those who are impacted by domestic and sexual violence, sex trafficking, health care disparities and barriers within education and leadership. Vernon, who is a long-time advocate for gender equity, previously launched Bon Iver’s 2 A Billion campaign which also focuses on similar agendas.
The official Lynx press release detailed some of the highlights of their efforts:
This collaboration will spotlight and support the following nonprofits: Women’s Foundation of Minnesota, She Rock, She Rock, and Girls Taking Action
Women’s Foundation of Minnesota: Invests in innovative community-based, community-led solutions to ensure safety, opportunity and pathways to economic security for women, girls, gender-expansive people and families across Minnesota
She Rock, She Rock: Is dedicated to empowering girls, women and gender-expansive folks through the art of music
Girls Taking Action (Lynx Changemaker Impact Partner): Works to motivate, empower and educate girls about the importance of understanding their personal power, achieving academically, actualizing their personal leadership, creating positive social change in their local community and developing a career plan that includes post-secondary education
Bon Iver’s 2 A Billion campaign will donate $250,000 in total grants to the above nonprofits and to the following 10 Minnesotan and western Wisconsin nonprofit organizations and shelters working to support survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse. Through each grant, Bon Iver and 2 A Billion further a commitment to supporting the localized resources and partners: Minnesota Transgender Health Coalition (Minneapolis, MN), Esperanza United (St. Paul, MN), Tubman (Minneapolis, MN), Women’s Advocates (St. Paul, MN), Ain Dah Yung Center (St. Paul, MN), Embrace (Ladysmith, WI), Family Support Center (Chippewa Falls, WI), Oakwood Haven (Hayward, WI), Turningpoint (River Falls, WI), Community Referral Agency (Rice Lake, WI)
The partnership will include activations throughout the season, such as unique content features, player integration with the nonprofits, community outreach, basketball clinics and the annual Lynx Changemakers Summit, which will take place in August 2025
Here is what both sides also shared in the release:
Justin Vernon :
“Basketball is exactly like music. It’s a group and individual improvising to create moments of vision, excitement and joy. Simply said, the Minnesota Lynx team is my favorite band in the world right now. As Bon Iver, we also saw an unprecedented opportunity to not only support this band of incredible women on the court, but by combining forces to more urgently support the communities of women in the Upper Midwest.”
Carley Knox (President of Business Operations):
“We are incredibly excited about this innovative and first-of-its-kind partnership, centered around community impact and the cultural connection of sports and music. Justin is an incredibly passionate supporter of the Lynx, and our complete value alignment has allowed us to create a partnership focused on meaningful societal change.”
Connecticut Sun v Minnesota Lynx - Game Five Photo by David Berding/Getty Images
The Lynx have always been a vocal supporters of great causes, bringing awareness to important social issues. This can be from huge collaborations with local and national organizations such as this, or as simple as President of Basketball Operations and Head Coach Cheryl Reeve wearing a different t-shirts when coaching games.
It truly makes rooting for the Lynx an easy decision for both basketball and non-basketball reasons.