’s journey is far from over. She continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible, both in the sports world and in the art world.
Action Figures: Jasmine Maietta, the Game-Changing Athlete and Creative Mind Behind Round21
Believing in the Power of Art and Sport
Action Figures, in collaboration with DraftKings, is back with its second installment, shining a spotlight on the individuals who are shaping the future and making every move count. From athletes to creators to innovators, these are the people who are rewriting the playbook with their unwavering belief, relentless hustle, and unbridled passion.
And for this edition, we turn our attention to Jasmine Maietta, a former professional basketball player, coach, and corporate leader. Her entire life has revolved around the intersection of competition and creativity, and she has now channeled that passion into her latest venture, Round21.
A Lifelong Love for Sports
For Maietta, sports have always been more than just a game. It all started in fourth grade when her brother handed her a basketball at the YMCA. What began as a way to bond with her family soon turned into a lifelong passion and a unique lens through which she sees the world.
Growing up during the era of Michael Jordan, Maietta quickly realized the power of self-expression through sports gear. From shoes to jerseys, what you wore on the court spoke volumes about your identity and pride. “What you put on your feet speaks,” she says. “That was the first time I knew what I put on said something about who I was.”
Merging Art and Sport into a Cultural Language
This connection between self-expression and competition became the driving force behind Round21. Every product in the brand’s collection, from limited-edition basketballs and jerseys to ping-pong paddles and footballs, tells a story. And these stories are brought to life by a collaboration between artists and athletes, transforming sports gear into cultural artifacts.
“We empower the artists to create what they believe the world needs to see,” Maietta explains. It’s a deliberate shift from the traditional brand model, where commerce drives creativity. At Round21, it’s all about using creativity to drive commerce.
A Journey of Risk and Reward
Maietta’s path from the corporate world to creative independence was not an easy one. After spending two decades in global brand roles, she took a leap of faith and left behind the safety of a steady salary and network to pursue her own vision. “I left twenty-five years of being in the corporate world with a safety net and said, ‘I’m going to go and do my own thing.’ That was the biggest bet I’ve ever placed on myself.”
But her gamble paid off. Within months of launching, Round21 won the NFL Players Association Super Bowl Pitch Competition and later partnered with the WNBA Players Association, proving that her vision for merging art and sport could thrive on a larger scale.
The Journey Continues
But Maietta’s journey is far from over. She continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible, both in the sports world and in the art world. With Round21, she is creating a new cultural language that celebrates the intersection of competition and creativity, and she shows no signs of slowing down. Keep an eye out for what this game-changing athlete and creative mind will do next.
