NEW YORK, February 5, 2025 – Evernorth Health Services and the National Basketball Association (NBA) today announced a multi-year partnership to improve community health and vitality, naming Evernorth as the official health services partner of the NBA and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). The collaboration also makes Evernorth the presenting partner of NBA Total Health, a holistic health platform for fans that promotes the connectivity of physical, mental, preventive and community health.
“Through this partnership, the NBA will continue to elevate the importance of holistic health, providing tools for fans to take control of their health and vitality,” said Barbara Bush, Vice President, Social Responsibility, NBA. “By combining the powerful influence of the NBA with Evernorth’s leading health expertise and services through enriching programming, this partnership will showcase best-in-class solutions and leadership, while deepening the league’s presence in the well-being space.”
"The WNBA’s partnership with Evernorth is an unbelievable opportunity to broaden the scope of our work off the court and promote total wellness across our organization,” said WNBA Chief Growth Officer Colie Edison. “We look forward to this partnership and to shining a light on critical issues like women’s health through our game, which holds significance for both players and fans alike.”
NBA Total Health presented by Evernorth is a health and wellbeing platform that leverages the reach of the NBA and the influence of player voices, alongside expert health organizations, including Evernorth, to inspire fans to care for their total health. The platform will officially tip off at NBA All-Star 2025 in San Francisco with a community walk that will engage more than 1,000 local participants, including fans, current and former players and their families to take positive steps on their health journeys.
“Our partnership with the NBA runs deep. We serve the NBA Family by providing services that improve health and wellbeing, and we’re proud that the NBA trusts Evernorth with their health. Now, it’s only fitting that we collaborate to improve the health and vitality of the NBA’s fans and communities,” said Dr. Glen Stettin, Chief Innovation Officer, Evernorth Health Services. “Good physical health is correlated with good mental health, and people who prioritize exercise also have stronger mental health and higher overall vitality. We look forward to jointly helping NBA fans and their communities tap into the power of physical activity and mental well-being as key contributors to their overall health and vitality, and inspiring them to take control of their individual health journeys.”
Evernorth’s collaboration with the NBA and WNBA will include holistic health and wellness initiatives at marquee events, including at NBA All-Star, NBA Draft presented by State Farm and the Emirates NBA Cup, which will offer essential health services such as screenings, educational resources and wellness activities. The partnership will come to life through additional extensions including media and virtual signage at NBA and WNBA games and events.
The WNBA and Evernorth will also collaborate on health initiatives as the league approaches its 2025 season, including a WNBA Health Summit and a community health initiative at WNBA All-Star, which will be announced at a later date.
For decades, the NBA has prioritized leveraging its platform and influence to make an impact in communities particularly in encouraging positive health outcomes. NBA players have been leading voices in destigmatizing conversations on mental health and have partnered with leading organizations on nutrition and fitness to promote participation in sports and healthy lifestyles for young people. The participatory nature of the NBA Total Health platform will educate fans on the impact of various health issues, societal impacts, and provide tools to maintain their own health and wellness.
About Evernorth Health Services
Evernorth Health Services creates pharmacy, care and benefits solutions to improve health and increase vitality. We relentlessly innovate to make the prediction, prevention and treatment of illness and disease more accessible to millions of people. Evernorth capabilities are powered by our businesses, including Express Scripts, Express Scripts® Pharmacy, Accredo, eviCore and MDLIVE, along with holistic Evernorth platforms and solutions that move people and organizations forward. All Evernorth solutions are serviced and provided by or through operating affiliates of Evernorth Health, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Cigna Group (NYSE: CI), or third-party partners. Learn more at evernorth.com.
About the NBA
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a global sports and media organization with the mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball. Built around five professional sports leagues: the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League, NBA 2K League and Basketball Africa League, the NBA has established a major international presence with games and programming available in 214 countries and territories in 60 languages, and merchandise for sale in more than 200 countries and territories on all seven continents. NBA rosters at the start of the 2024-25 season featured a record-tying 125 international players from a record-tying 43 countries. NBA Digital’s assets include NBA TV, NBA.com, the NBA App and NBA League Pass. The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with more than 2.3 billion likes and followers globally across all leagues, team and player platforms. NBA Cares, the NBA’s global social responsibility platform, partners with renowned community-based organizations around the world to address important social issues in the areas of education, inclusion, youth and family development, and health and wellness.
About the WNBA
Tipping off its 29th season in 2025, the WNBA celebrates and elevates the game of basketball and the culture around it. The league was ranked by Morning Consult as the fastest-growing brand in 2024, setting records for engagement on social and digital platforms, attendance, merchandise sales and unique viewers across its television partners. The WNBA’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and social responsibility is supported by the first-of-its-kind WNBA Changemakers Collective, a group of purpose-driven companies that have partnered with the WNBA to enhance the player experience and help drive the league’s business transformation.
