by Daniel Johnson

June 8, 2025

Fisk University Ends Its Historic Gymnastics Program

The university shared its impactful decision with its student body in an email.

After starting the nation’s first gymnastics program at an HBCU in 2023, Fisk University has made the decision to shutter the program at the conclusion of the 2025-2026 gymnastics season, citing recruitment disadvantages and scheduling issues as reasons for its decision.

In a press release, Valencia Jordan, the director of Fisk Athletics, addressed the rationale behind the university’s choice to end its support of the gymnastics program, which helped raise its profile.

“While we are tremendously proud of the history our gymnastics team has made in just three years, we look forward to focusing on our conference-affiliated teams to strengthen our impact in the HBCU Athletic Conference,” Jordan said. “Fisk is grateful for the hard work, dedication and tenacity of its gymnasts, staff members, and coaches who made this program possible.”

As Forbes reported, the university shared its impactful decision with its student body in an email. Although both Fisk and Wilberforce University currently sponsor women’s gymnastics, the HBCU Athletic Conference does not sanction the sport.

Morgan Price, the biggest star in Fisk University’s gymnastics program, got out ahead of the announcement, declaring her intent to transfer to the University of Arkansas.

Price, an Arkansas native, initially considered competing for the Razorbacks in her final season of eligibility when she signed to Fisk University, where all she did was guide the program in back-to-back national championships and score the first perfect 10 in HBCU gymnastics history.

The other cornerstone of Fisk’s gymnastics program, head coach Corrinnne Tarver, resigned one month into the program’s 2025 season. Tarver had led the program since its inception in the 2022-2023 season.

Even though these departures were notable, the decision to discontinue the gymnastics program led some athletes, alumni, and fans to express disappointment and disagreement with the university’s decision, especially after it won five national titles and set a new program record by having seven players named to the All-American squad.

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According to HBCU Gameday, the now-settled House v. NCAA lawsuit, which entitles players to direct payments from universities, has been a source of consternation from smaller schools, like HBCUs, and it hangs over the university’s decision, an ill omen, like an albatross.

According to Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Commissioner Charles McClelland, the settlement is anticipated to create financial urgency for HBCU conferences, which opt in to the revenue-sharing model created by the settlement. For those who don’t opt in, like Fisk University, the path is uncertain, and they risk losing out on athletes who may look to cash in on their talents.

“It is now allowable for institutions to directly give NIL money to their student-athletes,” McClelland said in December 2024. “That means there’s going to be an influx of athletes that are looking for NIL payments. You’re going to have to have some name, image, and likeness money set aside to compete. There’s going to be some challenging times from a financial standpoint.”

Affordable housing, Brooklyn, Bushwick, Brooklyn

by Sharelle B. McNair

June 8, 2025

Brooklyn Pastor Takes Affordable Housing Into His Own Hands To Keep Black Families From Leaving New York

Brawley says “there’s a part of your soul that gets affected” when long-time residents are priced out of communities that they helped build and have influence on.

Pastor David K. Brawley is making a name for himself by tackling the affordable housing crisis in Brooklyn, after noticing that Black members of his congregation are leaving the area, according to The New York Times.

Brawley, the pastor of St. Paul Community Baptist Church in the East New York area, noticed how more and more Black families are leaving due to the lack of affordable housing for his congregation members and the community’s residents. The 56-year-old took notice of how it’s hard to lead his flock if people are leaving noticeable numbers, calling it “an unspoken grief” each time one of his congregants announces they can no longer keep up with the cost of living.

The 56-year-old says, “There’s a part of your soul that gets affected” when long-time residents are being priced out of communities they helped build and have influence over.

Some St. Paul members hope to stay in the neighborhoods they’ve called home for decades, allowing them to remain close to their home church; however, limited resources hinder their ability to achieve this goal. However, its faith-based leaders, like Brawley and others, are working together to make that dream a reality. According to The Brooklyn Eagle, organizations across the Big Apple are teaming up with initiatives like the New York Land Opportunity Program (NYLOP) to leverage their properties for housing.

The New York Housing Conference website labels the program as “first-of-its-kind” to assist mission-driven organizations in finding partners willing to develop affordable housing on underutilized land. In addition, St. Paul is recommending public housing parking lots throughout the city as the perfect location to host 15,000 units for seniors like Linda Boyce, who was recently named an elder at St. Paul after being a loyal member for 50 years, so they aren’t pushed out of their homes.

As members of the congregation—and others across the country—express concerns about the rise of groceries like eggs that used to cost as much as $1.99, Boyce encourages those in the church to be a little more optimistic and look to higher powers outside of City Hall.

“The work gets harder, the work gets heavier,” the elder said. “We can do it because we are people of God.”

Leaders like Brawley stepped up because it’s difficult to depend on city leaders when specific rules and ramifications are in place. The idea of affordable housing for the Brooklyn borough includes a 51-story residential building on Fulton Street in Downtown Brooklyn. Units in the luxury building opened for lottery with eligible income ranging from $64,766 to $227,500.

by Daniel Johnson

June 8, 2025

She Launched An Anime Swimwear Brand During The Pandemic—Now Crunchyroll Is Betting Big On Her

James, who does not have a background in fashion design, leveraged her work making alternative designs and outfits for characters in video games to help her create unique designs for her clothing line

Atlanta-based content creator and game concept designer Jasmine James, 32, has inked a major partnership with Crunchyroll, the world’s largest anime streaming platform. Her brand, Fira X Wear, will launch three “My Hero Academia”-inspired capsule collections in 2025, following a year spent developing the line’s debut release.

According to Business Insider, the path forward for James and her anime-inspired swimwear brand, which blends cosplay and practical apparel, was not always smooth.

In 2019, while the world grappled with a global pandemic and James searched for a creative outlet, she noticed a gap in the cosplay community: anime-inspired clothing was scarce. What did exist was mostly limited to oversized men’s jackets or niche merchandise. Seeing the lack of stylish, practical options for fans like herself, James saw an opportunity to change that.

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Still, even after she and her husband invested $30,000 to launch the clothing line, James admitted to Business Insider that she initially feared her brand wouldn’t be taken seriously.

“I feel like people think it’s kiddish or only a certain age group is into it, without realizing that a lot of us, especially people in my age group, grew up with anime,” James told Business Insider.

James, who does not have a background in fashion design, leveraged her work making alternative designs and outfits for characters in video games to help her create unique designs for her clothing line.

“I had to learn what colors and what silhouettes are visible from across the map. Because when you’re playing, you have to be able to know who it is and know what their abilities are. So it taught me just the importance of color and shape and how to kind of apply those things in interesting ways to real life,” James said.

It was also important to her that the brand is accessible, not locked behind expensive designer launches, while retaining a high-quality product that is attractive to consumers.

The brand’s recently-launched “My Hero Academia” branded swimwear retails for approximately $100, both tops and bottoms, and the unisex jacket retails for $149, both relatively affordable price points.

“When you initially go into anime or pop cultural merch, a lot of it can feel very cheap. On the other hand, you’ll see very expensive designer launches. But everybody can’t afford a $30,000 Gucci outfit to look like their favorite anime character. To have them (Crunchyroll) look at what I’ve been doing on social media and look at my designs and instantly be like, yeah, we want to put our names alongside that, it’s a huge honor for me.”

Crunchyroll currently has approximately 17 million subscribers around the globe, and according to the company’s Global Vice President of Consumer Products, Anna Songco Adamian, the collaboration represents a unique opportunity for anime fans.

“Anime fans love to wear their fandom on their sleeve — literally. Fira X Wear and this collaboration is the culmination of all of that: professional design, craftsmanship, and fandom, blended into a wearable collection,” Adamian told Business Insider.

Bank of America, employee, disabled client

by Daniel Johnson

June 7, 2025

81-Year-Old White Florida Woman Arrested For Pepper-Spraying Black Kids

April Morant said she believes her neighbor, whom she has had problems with for months, is making her living situation untenable

Ocala, Florida, is the center of an alleged racist incident. Ada Anderson, an 81-year-old white woman, now faces three counts of battery after allegedly using racial slurs and spraying bear mace at two Black children and their mother, April Morant.

According to WESH-2 News, Morant, the mother who was also allegedly assaulted with pepper spray by Anderson, moved into the neighborhood in November 2024, and made allegations on social media that her neighbor was hostile to her since the first day she and her children moved into the Marion County neighborhood.

Morant told the outlet that the incident incited by Anderson during the week of May 30 started over something small: bubbles.

“Bubbles. Literally. The bubbles put her in a whole other arena whatever going on with her mind,” Morant told WESH-2, before continuing to tell the outlet that she heard Anderson shout a racial slur before leaning over the fence with an object in her hand.

“What went through my head is I thought she had a gun. So I literally kind of jumped, it startled me ’cause when she was to the fence, she was over the fence like this, and I didn’t know what was in her hand, cause I’m looking at her really quick, and then she sprayed it,” Morant recalled.

Morant also said that she believed her neighbor, whom she has had problems with for months, is making her living situation untenable. She created a fundraiser to accelerate her departure from the neighborhood.

Although Anderson was charged with battery, Morant expressed disappointment that her neighbor was not given a hate crime charge, considering what she described her neighbor saying to her children. Anderson posted bail, was released, and did not respond to WESH-2’s attempts to contact her as of June 3.

“Just battery but nothing on the kids or maybe a hate crime because you were saying all this stuff while you were spraying this stuff. For you to do the bear spray stuff, like I feel like I don’t know what you have in that house. I don’t know. I don’t want to be by her,” Morant explained.

Morant has also launched a fundraising campaign on GoFundMe, and has set a $15,000 goal for the fundraiser, and also detailed that the police hadn’t taken her multiple reports of her neighbor seriously until her children were assaulted.

Morant is seeking funds to help her pay for various costs associated with moving, such as a security deposit, a moving truck, and the first and last month’s rent. At the time of writing, she has raised $1,655 toward that goal.

“Since Day One, our next-door neighbor has targeted us with nonstop racial harassment, screaming slurs from her porch, telling us we don’t belong in the neighborhood, and poisoning the air with her hate. I’ve called the police before, but they didn’t act until this happened. Now she’s finally been arrested and charged with 3 counts of battery. But I know this isn’t over. She’ll be out soon, and I truly fear what she might do next. We can’t stay here. I don’t want to wait for this situation to escalate even further. I’m humbly asking for help so my children and I can move somewhere safe,” Morant wrote.

Kentucky, Louisville, Small Business, grant

by Stacy Jackson

June 7, 2025

Support Black Businesses! Chanté Griffin Releases Free ‘Buy Black’ Financial Toolkit

The 'Buy Black' Financial Toolkit is organized by themes and provides consumers with ways to take action and support Black businesses.

To commemorate Juneteenth, award-winning journalist and author Chanté Griffin is nudging consumers to support Black businesses all year long, and she’s making it easy through her “Buy Black” Financial Toolkit, a free, step-by-step guide to buying Black throughout the year.

When Juneteenth originated in the 1860s, following the announcement of the end of slavery in Galveston, Texas, the celebration of freedom encompassed not only physical independence but also economic freedom for Black people. In the wake of recent attacks on DEI by the Trump administration, increased support for Black businesses is needed now, more than ever. According to a press release, Griffin’s “Buy Black” Financial Toolkit gives consumers a detailed guide on practical ways to buy from Black businesses every month of the year.

A previous report by USA Today revealed Black Americans make up about 12.4% of the U.S. population. However, Black business owners only account for 2.4% of all employer-firm owners. Griffin’s financial toolkit is a handy resource to combat these statistics and recent obstacles that Black entrepreneurs face following the Trump administration’s orders to roll back DEI initiatives in January. “The work of increasing economic justice and Black wealth is ours,” said Griffin.

“Buy Black” was created with the consumers in mind. It builds on the numerous organizations that have created “Buy Black” guides throughout the years. The financial toolkit is organized each month by a theme and includes checklists of ways to support it. It includes streamlined purchasing options and strategies to support year-round. “It’s easy to order items from Amazon and to pick up hair products at the closest beauty supply store, but we must be intentional—and sometimes inconvenienced—for Black businesses to thrive,” said Griffin.

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Check out the monthly themes in Griffin’s “Buy Black” Financial Toolkit, starting this Juneteenth!

June: Personal Care and Fitness
July: Transportation, Travel, and Vacation
August: Outdoor Recreation
September: Education and Learning
October: Groceries, Food and Restaurants
November: Household Items
December: Giving
January: Housing and Home Improvement
February: Health and Legal
March: Spring Cleaning and Woman-Owned Businesses
April: Financial Services and Investments
May: Gifts

Griffin cautioned that if consumers fail to support Black businesses today, they may not exist tomorrow. Subscribe to her newsletter and download the free toolkit here. Looking for more on how to build a more equitable world? Order a copy of her book, “Loving Your Black Neighbor as Yourself: A Guidebook to Closing the Space Between Us,” online.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 7, 2025

Khadiyah Lewis, of ‘Love & Hip Hop Atlanta,’ Dead At 44

No cause of death was revealed.

Khadiyah “KD” Lewis, who appeared on the reality TV series “Love & Hip Hop Atlanta,” has died at the age of 44.

The Shade Room confirmed the news through her brother, Jay, who told the media outlet that she passed away May 30. No details were revealed regarding her cause of death.

“This has been an extremely emotionally devastating time. All prayers, condolences, and well wishes are sincerely appreciated.”

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Elijah Inegbedion also left a message on his Facebook page acknowledging Lewis and leaving her a message.

“You left behind a legacy most individuals can only dream of. Thank you for loving me the way you did and always having my back no matter what. God blessed me when he made me your baby brother and for that I am eternally thankful. You are forever on my mind and in my heart. I love you!”

A posting on the Temple & Sons website lists that her service is taking place in Oklahoma City at Earl M. Temple Memorial Chapel June 14 at 10 a.m., with visitations happening from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. June 10. She leaves behind her parents, Debra Body and David Clark Lewis Jr., sisters, Rasheedah Lewis and Nia T. Hill, and her brothers, Jamaal Lewis and Ahmedu Elijah Inegbedion.

People reported that Lewis appeared on Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta while she was in a relationship with rapper Yung Joc during the show’s third season and then became part of the cast in season 4 as a supporting member. By the time the fifth season aired, she and Young Joc had broken up. She was an entrepreneur who owned three businesses: a real estate investment firm, a consulting agency, and a financial services company.

Jay mentioned that the family plans to celebrate Lewis’s life with a Zoom memorial service.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 7, 2025

Milwaukee Man Convicted Of Killing 19-Year-Old Sade Robinson While On First Date

College student Sade Carleena Robinson was killed and dismembered by Maxwell Anderson.

A Milwaukee man, Maxwell Anderson, has been convicted of killing a 19-year-old college student while the two were on a date.

According to The Associated Press, a Milwaukee jury found the 34-year-old Anderson guilty of first-degree intentional homicide, dismembering a corpse, arson, and hiding a corpse. He was accused of killing Sade Carleena Robinson after the two were on a first date. Anderson dismembered the 19-year-old student and spread her remains around Milwaukee County and burned her vehicle to try to cover up his crime. The incident took place in April 2024.

by Ahsan Washington

June 7, 2025

Indulge Yourself On National Donut Day At These Black-Owned Donut Shops

June 7 is National Donut Day, and these Black-owned donut shops are giving us all things donuts to rant and rave about. These donut shops aren’t just whipping up delicious donuts. They’re creating interesting flavor combinations and making a difference in their communities. The shop owners have flipped the script on what a donut business can be and actualized it. Their commitment to community is just as impressive as their glazed masterpieces. Who knew donut shops could be such powerful forces for good?

Sublime Doughnuts – Atlanta, Georgia

If you’re ever in Atlanta and hit with a midnight donut craving, Sublime Doughnuts has got you covered. This 24-hour sweet spot, owned by the talented Kamal Grant, has two locations: one on 10th Street and another on Briarcliff Road. What makes this place special isn’t just its round-the-clock service, but its wildly creative donuts that draw inspiration from flavors around the world. It’s worth the trip if you’re tired of the same old glazed options.

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Cloudy Donut Co. – Brooklyn, New York

Try Cloudy Donut Co. It’s a vegan donut shop in Brooklyn. The owner, Derrick Faulcon, has created something special here. Cloudy Donut Co. has incredible gourmet donuts with flavors you wouldn’t believe, and everything is plant-based. You can find them in Brooklyn Heights and Nolita. What makes Cloudy even cooler is that, beyond just serving up delicious treats, they’re breaking barriers as the first Black-owned vegan donut shop in the city, becoming a trailblazer.

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Old Fashioned Donuts – Chicago, Illinois

If you are ever wandering through Chicago’s Roseland neighborhood, you may catch the mouthwatering scent wafting from Old Fashioned Donuts. This local gem has been serving hungry Chicagoans for over half a century. The owner, Burritt Bulloch, has turned this spot into a landmark in the community, famous for the massive “Big Dat” donut. You’ll find this sweet haven at 11248 S. Michigan Ave. Whether you’re a donut fanatic or just someone looking to taste authentic Chicago food culture, you can’t miss this place.

Devi’s Donuts and Sweets – Long Beach, California

Devi’s Donut Spot has been around since 2016. It was started by the Ognibenes and named after their child, Vrinda. Eva has been perfecting her donut recipe for 15-plus years, and it shows. Their flavors are exciting. The Lemon Pistachio, Lavender Rose, and Creme Brûlée are all plant-based. Hit them up on this National Donut Day if you’re craving something different. Devi’s Donuts is not just about the donuts; they’re big on supporting formerly incarcerated individuals.

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Beyond Amazing Donuts (B.A.D.) – Charlotte, North Carolina

If you’re ever in Charlotte, North Carolina, you’ve got to check out Beyond Amazing Donuts (B.A.D.). This Black-owned gem is seriously worth the trip. Owner Jasmine Macon created this sweet spot where donut fanatics can’t stop raving about. Beyond Amazing Donuts offers everyday vanilla and chocolate classics, unexpected flavors, and seasonal treats. The shop is part of a network of Black-owned eateries in the area, making it more than just a place to crush your sugar cravings. It is showcasing the city’s fantastic food diversity.

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Donut’ste Donuts – Lake Mary, Florida

This Black-owned donut shop specializes in plant-based treats. The founders, Chef Jacob Buchanan and Chef Victoria White, are wizards when it comes to making donuts from scratch. They’ve built up quite the fan club in Lake Mary, Florida. Visitors drive from all over to get their hands on these goodies!

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by Stacy Jackson

June 7, 2025

Dawn Staley To Appear On CBS’ New ‘WNBA Tip-Off’ Show

Staley will join CBS' 'WNBA Tip Off' pregame show as an analyst with host Sarah Kustok and former WNBA star Renee Montgomery.

South Carolina Gamecocks women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley is joining CBS’s new WNBA pregame show, “WNBA Tip-Off,” as an analyst.

The former USA Women’s National Team head coach will provide insight from a studio ahead of WNBA matchups that will follow after the program. According to Gamecock Central, Staley will be accompanied at the table by host Sarah Kustok and former WNBA player Renee Montgomery.

Staley’s WNBA career began back in 1999 when she was drafted by the Charlotte Sting as the ninth overall pick. Her coaching career launched in 2000 at Temple while still an active player. Staley played in the WNBA until she retired in 2006 with the Houston Comets. Now, acclaimed as one of the top coaches in women’s basketball, she will bring her expertise in basketball to her new role on CBS. However, the on-air role is nothing new to the six-time All-Star player who appeared on NBC in 2024 to cover women’s basketball at the Paris Olympics.

Fans of Staley gave their opinions about the newly set “WNBA Tip-Off” analyst and Gamecocks coach. One person wrote on the March Madness Women’s Basketball Facebook page that there was “no one better qualified.” While many fans are eager to hear what she has to say about the games, others are interested in seeing what drip the basketball legend will pull up to the studio. A second commenter noted that Staley would bring not only her “basketball acumen,” but also her “fashion sense” to the CBS pregame show. According to Women’s Wear Daily, the coach has made headlines several times after stepping out on the court in designer labels like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, R13, Balenciaga, and more.

Catch Staley on “WNBA Tip-Off,” debuting this Saturday at 7:30 P.M. ET on CBS, followed by a face-off between Indiana and Chicago at 8:00 P.M. ET. Upcoming airings have already been scheduled: July 12, Golden State vs. Las Vegas at 3:00 P.M.; Aug. 9, Chicago vs. Indiana at 7:30 P.M.; and Aug. 16, New York vs. Minnesota. Staley, Kustok, and Montgomery are reportedly not scheduled to travel to games for coverage.

Miami Heat,Terry Rozier, Portland Trail Blazers' Head Coach, Chauncey Billups

by Kandiss Edwards

June 7, 2025

More Than A Ring: Inside The NY Liberty’s Championship Bling And Its New York Swagger

The New York Liberty’s 2025 championship rings have been revealed and are the full package, thoughtful, innovative, and fly.

The championship bling was designed by renowned jeweler Jason of Beverly Hills and designers Dynasty and Soull Ogun. Dynasty and Soull are the founders of L’Enchanteur. Ahead of the unveiling ceremony, BK Magazine spoke to the sisters about the meaning behind each carat.

Dynasty and Soull are New York natives, which made the commission a personal one for the women. As a former high school and college basketball player, Dynasty once “aspired to play for the Liberty.” The opportunity to have a role in honoring the franchise’s first championship win is a dream for the designer.

Ring Face

In the center of the square face is the Liberty’s torch emblem set with six pavé and emerald-cut white diamonds. The diamonds are an ode to Clara and Jo Wu Tsai, the franchise owners for the past six years. The letters “NY” are crafted with 11 black diamonds on either side of the torch. Each diamond represents one of the team’s 2024 playoff wins. Each black diamond is 0.32 carats, reflecting the Liberty’s 32 regular-season victories—the highest winning record in franchise history.

Face Twist

While most championship rings do not go beyond face value, this beauty has a twist, literally. If twisted, the face of the ring reveals a pair of earrings. The gold “NY” set is also a creation of Dynasty and Soull. Furthermore, engravings of the team’s motto, “We all we got! We all we need!” anchor the diamond crown “NY” earrings. The interior also includes engravings for each series in the playoffs, including: the 2-0 blowout against the Atlanta Dream, the 3-1 win against the Las Vegas Aces, and the final 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Lynx.

“We hid some earrings in there, so that the players would get this little special razzle-dazzle in the ring that they can also wear more continuously. Not everyone is going to wear their ring every day, but they might wear these earrings every day and have a piece of that championship with them all the time,” Soul said.

A closer look at the New York Liberty's championship rings: pic.twitter.com/XRY8MjOMCM
— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) May 17, 2025

Side Design

One side of the ring is pretty standard, imagery of the 2024 WNBA Finals championship trophy. A single diamond sits above the trophy, signifying the franchise’s first title. The other tells the story of the rough-and-tumble city from which the team is rooted. While New York is known as the Concrete Jungle, the opposing corner embodies that raw, unbreakable edge. The graphic of a leaf emerging from cracks in concrete, designed by Soull, represents the city’s and team’s resilience and growth. The budding leaf is set with 28 Paraíba tourmalines.

Soull spoke about the number of gems and the significance of the colors, “Liberty color is a seafoam green, and one of the stones that I had suggested was something called Paraíba.”

She continued, “It’s really sassy. It’s beautiful, and sometimes more valuable than a diamond. I wanted to introduce rare stones into the design of the ring. Numerology was also incorporated into the design process. The number of diamonds represents the number of wins that season.”

Inside the ring’s shank, a player’s jersey and roster number are engraved, further personalizing each piece. Clara Wu Tsai, governor and an owner of the New York Liberty, emphasized that the ring “reflects the tenacity, determination, and greatness of this team and of New York City itself.”

Jason Arasheben, founder and CEO of Jason of Beverly Hills, echoed this sentiment, stating, “This wasn’t just a ring—it was a responsibility.”

The collaboration with Dynasty and Soull Ogun allowed for a piece that merges excellent craftsmanship with artistic vision rooted in Brooklyn. The championship rings were unveiled May 17 at the Liberty’s season opener. The team went on to defeat the Las Vegas Liberty 92-78.