La Crema Winery Slam Dunks A Partnership With The WNBA

Sonoma based La Crema Winery and the WNBA are making history in 2024. Their union is the first-ever wine partnership for the Women’s National Basketball Team. Together they have joined forces to pair sports and sipping wine for a multi-year partnership. 

La Crema Winery + WNBA. Photo Jill Weinlein

As a women owned and women led wine company, the original name, La Crema Viñera, means “Best of the Vine.” La Crema stands with and toasts the best of the WNBA, following the same commitment to inclusion, pursuit of excellence, and individual expression. As allies they will “Celebrate the Best of Us,” as one of the most beloved wineries in California engages with one of the most dynamic sports leagues today.

La Crema Winery

The WNBA is experiencing the fastest growth in viewership of any major sports league. According to Nielsen ratings, there has been a 29% spike in airing women’s sports events from 2018 to 2022. Last year’s WNBA regular season games has an average of 505k viewers across ESPN networks and CBS. The 2023 WNBA finals saw an average of 728k viewers on ESPN, with an exciting rise of 36% compared to the 2022 finals.

La Crema Winery + WNBA

The 2024 WNBA Regular Season features 12 teams, entering its 28th season. The first game kicks off on May 15, 2024. This bold, progressive basketball league stands for the power of women, and together this shared collaboration, celebrates the achievements of women both on and off the court. Through its world-class athletes, the in-game fan experience, TV and digital broadcasts, digital and social content, and community and youth outreach programs, the league celebrates and elevates the game of basketball and the culture around it.

A groundbreaking collective bargaining agreement between the WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) has charted a new course for women’s professional basketball while increasing player compensation, improving the player experience and expanding career development opportunities.

Key elements of the agreement are supported through the league’s partnership platform, the WNBA Changemakers Collective, which comprises AT&T, Deloitte, Nike, Google, U.S. Bank and CarMax. Another platform, the WNBA Justice Movement, is a collaboration between the league and the WNBPA to combat racial and gender inequality, promote LBGTQ+ rights and champion reform where injustice persists.

La Crema is part of the global portfolio of wineries owned by Jackson Family Wines, spanning across California, Oregon, Canada, Italy, France, South Africa, Chile, and Australia.