Bon Iver Joins With WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx On Gender Equity Partnership 

Bon Iver has announced a multi-year partnership with the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx that aims to advocate for gender equity and bring about change by drawing “awareness to domestic and sexual violence, sex trafficking, health care disparities and barriers within education and leadership.” 

This week’s announcement notes that Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon is a staunch advocate for gender equity, having created the 2 A Billion campaign, which “raises support, awareness and person-to-person connections in an effort to end gender inequity, domestic violence and sexual abuse.” Vernon, who has family ties in both Wisconsin and Minnesota, is also a long-time Lynx fan, having discussed his love for the team while promoting his latest album, SABLE, fABLE, which was released in April. 

The partnership with the Lynx will see the 2 A Billion campaign donating $250,000 in total grants to Women’s Foundation of Minnesota, She Rock, She Rock and Girls Taking Action, as well as the following 10 Minnesotan and western Wisconsin nonprofit organizations and shelters that are working to support survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse: Minnesota Transgender Health Coalition (Minneapolis); Esperanza United (St. Paul, Minnesota); Tubman (Minneapolis); Women’s Advocates (St. Paul); Ain Dah Yung Center (St. Paul); Embrace (Ladysmith, Wisconsin); Family Support Center (Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin); Oakwood Haven (Hayward, Wisconsin); Turningpoint (River Falls, Wisconsin) and Community Referral Agency (Rice Lake, Wisconsin) 

“Basketball is exactly like music. It’s a group and individual improvising to create moments of vision, excitement and joy. Simply said, the Minnesota Lynx team is my favorite band in the world right now. As Bon Iver, we also saw an unprecedented opportunity to not only support this band of incredible women on the court, but by combining forces to more urgently support the communities of women in the Upper Midwest,” Vernon said in a statement. 

Lynx President of Business Operations Carley Knox added, “We are incredibly excited about this innovative and first-of-its-kind partnership, centered around community impact and the cultural connection of sports and music. Justin is an incredibly passionate supporter of the Lynx, and our complete value alignment has allowed us to create a partnership focused on meaningful societal change.” 

The partnership, which begins with the 2025 Lynx season, will include player integration with the nonprofits, community outreach, basketball clinics and the annual Lynx Changemakers Summit in August.