About Us
Our Story
THE MAGIC OF BASKETBALL is about more than the game. Co-Founded by eight season WNBA player, two-time Canadian Olympian and veteran professional basketball athlete Kayla Alexander, and longstanding sports + entertainment business executive Kelly Gianopoulos, The MoB brand is designed to empower young women to harness their potential as leaders of the future.
Where We Began
Raptors Game: Celebrating Women’s Empowerment Night. The Magic of Basketball was one of the women-led organizations recognized and celebrated during the Raptors game. MoB hosted a pre-game event for high school girls and their families.
The Magic of Basketball media launch, in partnership with Nav Bhatia Superfan and hosted by Kayla Grey, TSN sportscaster and host of The Shift, was followed by MoB’s Kayla Alexander Girls Exposure Camp, which saw over over 100 girls participate.
The first ‘Nothing But Next’ event was launched in partnership with Makeway, featuring WNBA star and 2x Olympian Bridget Carleton, along with Savanna Hamilton, Raptors sideline reporter and host of SWISH: Inside the WNBA.
‘Nothing But Next’ is an immersive experience that sits at the intersection of basketball culture – from music and fashion to sneakers and art – and partners with brands to spotlight incredible women while celebrating female-led businesses.
Team Members
KAYLA ALEXANDER
Co-Founder - The Magic of Basketball™
Former 8-season WNBA Player, 2x Olympian, Co-Founder, Tall Size, Author & Illustrator, Entrepreneur
Kayla Alexander is a former WNBA player, Olympian, and advocate for gender equity in sports. A proud Canadian, she has represented Team Canada in basketball since 2008, including at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2024 Paris Olympics. She also helped Canada secure a fourth-place finish at the 2022 World Cup. Off the court, she’s an author, business owner, and co-founder of TallSize.com, an online clothing marketplace for tall women. Kayla is a dedicated Right To Play Ambassador, working to empower girls globally, and mentors young athletes through the National Basketball Youth Mentorship Program.
KELLY GIANOPOULOS
Co-Founder - The Magic of Basketball™
Founder & President, Standing Room Only Entertainment Group
Kelly is an award-winning innovator with over 25 years of experience in sports and entertainment marketing, working with Fortune 500 companies across North America. She was one of the core staff members that launched the NBA’s Toronto Raptors, earning an IABC Gold Quill Award. Her extensive career includes senior roles with MLB’s Toronto Blue Jays, the Toronto 2008 Olympic Bid, and leading global brands like KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, as well as agency-side with Labatt Breweries’ sports and music properties. Kelly (developed and) negotiated the largest co-promotion partnership in Canadian retail history and received accolades including a Cannes Lions International Advertising Award. In 2022, she launched Standing Room Only Entertainment, a boutique sports + entertainment agency specializing in developing strategic brand partnerships, creating innovative properties, and spearheading initiatives with athletes, music artists, brands, professional sports teams, leagues and organizations.
Community Partners
Media & Content Partners
