In 2026, the intersection of sports and coffee culture has reached an all-time fever pitch. What started in the NBA bubble with Jimmy Butler’s Bigface Coffee, has turned into a global enterprise of athletes diversifying their interests and launching their own coffee brands. Every day there is more content from athletes such as Marina Mabrey of the Toronto Tempo posting coffee reviews in her travels, or Chicago Sky Forward Maddy Westbeld collaborating with local roaster Quad Coffee.
We’re finding that the enthusiasm for coffee isn’t limited to basketball. Future NFL Hall of Fame candidates Patrick Mahomes and Cooper Cupp have both launched coffee ventures in recent history, with Throne Sport Coffee and Dodo Coffee Co. It’s undeniable that coffee and sports are intertwined in culture in a way that some might consider unexpected. These subjects have something in common in that they bring people together and foster community. Where coffee events are happening, you can always find Genuine Origin on location.
The Intersection of Coffee and Culture
The WNBA held their annual All-Star weekend in Chicago the weekend of July 24th. The stars of the basketball world descended on the city for the weekend, and in collaboration with the event, Chicago’s Drip Collective held a collaborative coffee club with Unrivaled; the women’s 3v3 league launched by WNBA Stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart. If you’re unfamiliar with the Unrivaled league, it was founded in 2023 in part to allow WNBA players to play domestically and bypass complications from the WNBA’s prioritization rule for players who choose to play overseas in the WNBA offseason. It is also a player owned league with emphasis on revenue sharing and equity, a current running issue with the pay scale and current collective bargaining agreement in the WNBA.
As a fan of basketball and coffee, there was no way I was going to miss a chance to have the stars of the WNBA and Unrivaled be my barista for a day. The event featured a merch booth, a live DJ, player meet and greets, and free drinks curated by Unrivaled and Drip Collective. They handed out “passports” with a social scavenger hunts in an effort to create a communal atmosphere amongst attendees with a shared love of coffee and basketball. The baristas for my time slot were Kayla McBride, a five time all-star and guard for the Minnesota Lynx, and Bridget Carleton, a two time Olympian and Forward for the Portland Fire.
Genuine Origin on the Scene
The Unrivaled Coffee Club took place in Chicago’s West Loop
Coffee Culture meets Basketball with Unrivaled at Drip Collective
Unrivaled Coffee Club featured signature beverages curated by the players
The line was packed full of basketball fanatics
Drip Collective always makes sure it’s a party with a Live DJ
WNBA Stars in the house, lighting up coffee culture
Bridget Carlton and Kayla McBride pose for pictures with fans
Five time WNBA all-star Kayla McBride adding to her skillset by learning latte art
Bridget Carleton signs some autographs for fans
Drip Collective decorated with highlight shots from the past Unrivaled Season
First Unrivaled Coffee Club Is A Slam Dunk
The Unrivaled Coffee Club ran from 11am to 8pm at Drip Collective, while the stars of Unrivaled popped in and out to work their barista shifts. Aside from my baristas seen above, fans got cameos from Rookie of the Year frontrunner Olivia Miles, Unrivaled founder Napheesa Collier, Rickea Jackson, Marina Mabrey and more. Readers can see more coverage on the Unrivaled Instagram page, and learn more about the league on their website.
Fans of coffee can always expect Drip Collective to come through with both creative and innovative events and an emphasis on bringing community closer together.