More Than Game

More Than Game takes what's already loved about the WNBA and shows that there's even more. More passion. More multidimensional. More perfection. And this year, more primetime.

Year
2023
COMPANY
Project
Campaign
MY role
Creative Director

Objective

Help shift the perceptions of the league from heavy to joyful in response to the league being perceived as "less than" other sporting leagues.

The ad's framework sets up a visually captivating atmosphere that appeals to traditional sports fans and those who may not typically be interested in sports. The WNBA over the past few years has experienced growth in its brand recognition, number of viewers, and online presence, transforming into much more than just a sport. The phrase "More Than Game" accurately depicts what the WNBA represents today, which encompasses exceptional basketball skills, captivating entertainment, a sense of purpose, and a powerful league of women who are prepared to take on any obstacle.

Commercial

Expanding on the previous year's "More Than" theme, the WNBA and its athletes are not just fierce competitors on the basketball court, but in all aspects of life. "More Than Game" showcases much more to the league than what fans already love. With passion, multidimensionality, on-court perfection, and a literal CGI multiverse, we watch how these "girls are players too", as different layers of WNBA players' personalities, skills, and best on-court moments build around the 2022 MVP and Champion, A'ja Wilson.

The ad showcases a use of cutting-edge computer-generated imagery and animations to craft a visually stunning and surreal version of the WNBA. By leveraging advanced CGI technologies, the ad magnifies the league's dynamic and multifaceted nature, and seamlessly weaves together different dimensions to emphasize the "More Than" theme and propel the league's progress forward.

Music

Blending sports, music, and culture, the advertisement features female hip-hop star Coi Leray. We collaborated with her to create original lyrics and narration for the commercial, using her 2023 hit 'Players' - an urban female anthem that reached the US Billboard Hot 100's Top 10. 

Coi's immense social media following of over 19 million on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram contributes to the league's relevance and presence in today's pop culture landscape.

Success

More Than Game’ debuted on air on May 18 during the NBA Finals on ESPN. As of June 2023, it has garnered over 93 million impressions across social, and growing.

More Than Game
More Than Game