Jewell Loyd has put up some impressive numbers on the basketball court: three NCAA Women’s Final Four appearances while at Notre Dame, two WNBA titles with the Seattle Storm, and just over 3,000 points (and counting) in her WNBA career. As incredible as those accomplishments are, she’s got another big number in mind. In an exciting partnership with Nunbelievable, Loyd wants to help feed Americans struggling with hunger.
Last fall, not long after helping the Stormwin their second WNBA title in three years, the two-time All-Star participated in aFacebook Live chat with Nunbelievable co-founder and CMO Kuda Biza to talk abouther career, her influences, and her interest in helping those less fortunate. Through a special discount code, she’s hoping to encourage her fans to buy Nunbelievable cookies, which will help provide meals to those in need. For every cookie that we sell, we donate a meal to one of our impact partnerfood pantries, soup kitchens, and other organizations on the front lines of the fight against hunger.
“Knowing that there are kids and families that are hungry, that doesn't sit well with me at all, and I don't believe that should be an issue here in America,” Loyd said during the chat. “And so knowing that we can provide help is a no-brainer to me. I’m going to do everything in my power to provide that, because there's a need. No one should be left hungry. … Plus the cookies are great, so it’s a win-win for me!”
“Having a person like you — who has a platform [and] who is doing amazing things on and off the court — partnering is with us is something we truly embrace,” Biza said. “Because it is through that we are going to be able to actually make a dent in solving that [hunger] problem.”
You can watch the full conversation here:
Since joining the WNBA following her junior year at Notre Dame in 2015 —as the No. 1 draft pick — Loyd has kept a focus on giving back. “That’s something I’ve always had in my journey is understanding that people need people,” she said. “And to get there you need to understand people, you need to love people, you need to help people.”
Loyd also talked abouther friendship with the late Kobe Bryant. “He poured into me a lot of knowledge and I got to know the tender-hearted man, not the villain Kobe Bryant that everyone sees on the court,” she said of the NBA legend, who died tragically in 2020. “It was mind-blowing to be in his presence.” It was Bryant who gave Loyd her nickname: Gold Mamba.
Bryant also introduced her to another NBA star, Brooklyn Nets sensation Kyrie Irving.Loyd has developed a strong friendship with Irving, who she thinks of as a brother. Through their conversations, Irving was inspired to makea $1.5 million donation to WNBA players who chose not to play last year due to safety concerns during the pandemic or in order to focus on social justice issues as part of the Black Lives Matter movement. (Many WNBA players join leagues overseas in the off-season to supplement their incomes. In fact, in addition to her summers with the Seattle Storm, Loyd has also played in Turkey, China, South Korea, and Spain.)
If you’d like to help Loyd support the work of Nunbelievable, you can use the code JEWELL15 for a 15% discount on our delicious, wholesome cookies. Remember: Every cookie you buy translates into a meal for someone in need! You can buy themhere.
