Meet the women cooking for athletes and fans

If you follow sports stories at all, there’s no way you haven’t heard of Caitlin Clark, the recent University of Iowa star turned Indiana Fever rookie who’s captured the attention of basketball fans all over the country. And with other legends like the Mercury’s Diana Taurasi and the athletes representing Team USA at the upcoming Paris Summer Olympics joining her, this year’s WNBA All-Star Game is projected to be one of the biggest ever.

The 2024 All-Star Game will be held in Phoenix for the first time in a decade, and staff at Footprint Center are not taking the honor lightly.

“You can see it in the ticket sales, we’re getting a bigger turnout,” said Otis Huemmer, senior executive chef at Footprint Center.

Not only is the event a great way to celebrate and shine a spotlight on women’s sports, but behind the scenes, it’s also giving more opportunities to women chefs who are cooking for the athletes and fans at the game.

The woman cooking for the WNBA

Lacey Sellers is the chef responsible for feeding the athletes. It’s a big job that requires creating recipes that taste good and leave the players feeling strong, healthy and energized enough to play basketball.

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Sellers joined OVG Hospitality a year ago and has prepared meals for both the Phoenix Mercury and Suns during the NBA and WNBA seasons. But she said there’s something unique about the WNBA All-Star Game that feels extra special to her.

“I grew up watching the WNBA, going on about 30 years now. I remember as a kid in high school, watching the games and being familiar with the players, and now to be able to cook for them, is it really feels like honor. It feels like a full circle moment,” Sellers said.

She also has to take into account that many players eat plant-based and some have gluten intolerances, she said. She followed a plant-based diet herself for a number of years, so she said she feels experienced in that regard. But she still works hard to make sure that the dietician-approved menus don’t get redundant for the athletes.

“I think it kind of helps me to elevate my game and introduce different kinds of flavors, different types of techniques as well. But yeah, I think food can be nutritious, flavorful and exciting too, if you got the right hands preparing it,” Sellers said.

Women chefs also behind the scenes at Footprint Center

Footprint Center also unveiled a brand-new concession stand menu for fans attending the All-Star Game on July 20, including unique items like an apple fritter pulled pork sandwich and a Sonoran hot dog-inspired hamburger.

Overseeing production on game day is sous chef Calsey Tullie, who is in her fourth season with the NBA and WNBA.

Tullie grew up watching basketball but never imagined that her culinary career would land her in a spot to be working behind the scenes of such a large sporting event as the All-Star Game.

“WNBA is just as packed (as NBA games) and it’s really cool to see it really take off and become what it is now and what it’s turned into. So I’m really excited to do the WNBA All-Star, because it’s something new and different, and we’re also highlighting a lot of different cuisines,” Tullie said.