Focus

The objective was to amplify Steve Nash’s annual Showdown—a hybrid soccer and basketball charity match—by elevating its visibility, cultural relevance, and media footprint. The brief centered on bringing high-profile athletes, creators, and press into the fold to drive real-time storytelling and maximize the event’s reach.

Execution

Theresa Tran led strategic talent outreach, assembling a standout roster across football and basketball: Midge Purce, Edgar Davids, Ali Krieger, Edward van Gils, Charlie Davies, Josh Richardson, Jeff Mater, Sacha Kljestan, Bradley Wright-Phillips, Mehdi Ballouchy, Mike Grella, Peguy Luyindula, Mana Shim, Rodney Wallace, and Chris Wingert, among others.

The sidelines carried equal cultural weight, drawing notable guests such as Bobby Cannavale, Kevin Love, Cam Johnson, Bloody Osiris, Boris Kodjoe, Crystal Dunn, Greg Oden, Jazzy, Jozy Altidore, and Casssy Athena. This mix of athletes, actors, musicians, and creators ensured the event resonated far beyond traditional sports audiences.

Media outlets including SoccerBible, The Athletic, Overtime FC, Highsnobiety, GOAL, Five-A-Side Media, Urban Pitch, and Forty One delivered coverage that contributed to 152M+ online impressions, while creators and attendees generated 371 social posts, collectively driving 79.7M+ impressions across platforms.

Cultural Impact

The amplified Showdown became one of the most visible athlete-led charity events of the year—bridging legacy talent, youth culture, and style. The integrated presence of elite athletes, cultural figures, and influential digital voices transformed the event into a high-impact cultural moment, expanding its audience, strengthening its storytelling power, and cementing its place within the broader sports-culture ecosystem.