Inspiring the next generation—on and off the court
Jewell Loyd has pretty much done it all. She’s a 2x WNBA champion. 6x WNBA All-Star. 4x USA basketball gold medalist. 2023 WNBA scoring leader.
And she’s still going.
With 10 years experience playing in the WNBA, the Las Vegas Aces star is continually finding ways to up her game. Her secret? Hard work, dedication, and data. “STEM and basketball go hand in hand. After every game and practice, I review the data from my on-the-court performance, but also data from my training and healing routines to improve and better inform my practices,” Jewell says.
STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) wasn’t always a part of Jewell’s process. It wasn’t until she turned pro that she realized the impact technology can have on her game. Now a full-blown data evangelist, Jewell is dedicated to helping kids learn the power of STEM through basketball.
Jewell Loyd on the court with STEM clinic students.
“Alright kiddos, imagine this ball is the sun.” Jewell says, placing a basketball down at center court. She’s hosting a recent STEM clinic in Seattle, co-sponsored by the WNBA and Microsoft.
“Now, imagine the rest of us are planets. You can be Mars or Earth or… even be a player on the sun,” she says with a smirk. “Okay, let’s practice orbiting the sun while dribbling.” Jewell and the kids start their orbit, slowly at first to master the movement’s mechanics. Then, they up the pace. A wayward ball bounces off a shoe and flies out of orbit. “Oh no, we lost a planet!” Jewell playfully exclaims as the kid chases down his runaway Mercury.
Jewell also shows off the various types of passes and their angles. The kids learn that “flat passes” glide smoothly through the air parallel to the floor. “High lob passes” shoot nearly straight up before arcing back down into the hand of their teammates. And “push passes” cut straight across the air like a rocket. The kids seem excited to learn about the geometric forces behind each pass. And to Jewell, that means mission accomplished. “I love learning and I love teaching. So, any time I can do both, it’s a win. Helping empower the next generation is so rewarding.”
Jewell’s love for basketball and technology fuels her commitment to empowering the next generation. By harnessing the power of Microsoft Copilot, she seamlessly organizes and prepares her STEM clinics, ensuring every detail is thoughtfully designed to provide an engaging and impactful experience that bridges the worlds of sports and science.
Jewell is just one example of the WNBA players and organizations teaming up with Microsoft to introduce the world of STEM to kids through basketball.
We’re giving kids the tools to create opportunities for themselves by helping them understand the data behind the plays.
Chicago Sky
The Chicago Sky might be the 2021 WNBA champions, but they’re also champions for education and innovation.
Since the Sky was formed in 2006, they’ve been vocal supporters of educators and leaders throughout the Chicago area, particularly with their High School Educator of the Year Award. The award recognizes local educators who contribute to student development in their community. With Microsoft Copilot as this year’s presenting sponsor, the winner will be recognized during the Microsoft Entitlement game and provided a VIP experience package.
The Chicago Sky also foster learning and innovation through their Chicago Sky Basketball Academy, a program that offers girls ages 9-18 basketball training, travel team opportunities, and educational camps. Sponsored by Microsoft Copilot AI, these camps feature STEM and basketball clinics where participants learn STEM concepts through basketball drills. Microsoft Copilot AI is seamlessly integrated into these clinics, providing interactive, personalized learning experiences that enhance the STEM curriculum with cutting-edge technology.
Jr. NBA
The Jr. NBA and Microsoft also partnered to teach STEM concepts through basketball, showing how science, technology, engineering, and math are present in every aspect of the game. The content library is designed for two age groups—6-8 and 9-11—making the activities accessible and engaging for young learners.
STEM Clinic participant measures their vertical jump on the jump pad.
WNBA player Shakira Austin on the court with a STEM clinic participant.
STEM clinic participants create their own basketball player card with Copilot.
At WNBA All-Star 2024, Microsoft, the Jr. NBA, and 4th Family transformed the WNBA Live Main Court into a dynamic learning experience. Youth participants explored how STEM is integrated into sports science tools and techniques by rotating through basketball stations equipped with STEM tools and Microsoft Surfaces to dive into specific STEM topics.
A standout of the event was the Microsoft Copilot station, where participants got hands-on experience creating their own Basketball Collectible using Microsoft Copilot technology. This interactive experience highlighted how technology and creativity intersect in sports.
