CHICAGO (May 6, 2024) – The Chicago Sky and Microsoft have announced a landmark multi-year partnership, the team announced today.
Microsoft will be named the Sky’s Official Technology Partner to help change the game for girls and women through the intersection of STEM and basketball. Microsoft will also be a presenting partner of the Sky Basketball Academy, which offers girls ages 9-18 basketball training, travel teams, camps, clinics, and personal development to help maximize their future potential on and off the court. Programming will be integrated into each camp & clinic hosted by the Chicago Sky, highlighting different STEM connections throughout the fundamentals of basketball.
“We are excited to partner with the Chicago Sky this season to showcase how STEM and basketball come together on and off the court,” Amy Sorokas, Director Strategic Partnerships at Microsoft said. “Working with the Sky to celebrate educators and inspire students to bring their passion for basketball to science, technology, engineering, and math – driving Microsoft’s commitment to empowering the next generation of leaders, thinkers & creators!”
Throughout the season, Microsoft will be the presenting partner of the Most Valuable Educator Award, a campaign intended to provide recognition and appreciation for a local nonprofit STEM educator. Darrell Booker, Corporate Affairs Specialist at Microsoft, will help identify nominees for the Most Valuable Educator Award and community leaders promoting STEM programming throughout the Chicagoland area. On June 20 against Dallas, Microsoft will be the presenting partner of the STEM Education Camp Day Game at Wintrust Arena. Microsoft will also be launching a promotion centered around Chicago Sky Gaming Night on June 30, where a lucky fan will win a customized Chicago Sky Xbox Series X console and Xbox Wireless controller.
“We are thrilled to welcome Microsoft to Skytown as we work together to showcase the intersection of sport and STEM” said Alex Teodosi, Chicago Sky Vice President of Corporate Partnerships. “We couldn’t be more excited to unveil a partnership that will celebrate education and expose young students to inspiring new opportunities.”
Microsoft will be a premier partner of the Chicago Sky Small Business Boot Camp, featuring Microsoft Surface tablets and LinkedIn to help elevate the program and its impact. By implementing products and services like Surface, Copilot, and Make:Code, Microsoft will help the Sky bridge STEM and basketball both on and off the court. The Sky coaching staff will be outfitted with Microsoft Surface products to be used on the court, at practice and in the film room.