Anya Dippold

I didn’t grow up obsessed with sports, but I became obsessed with the stories behind them.

It started with my first UNC basketball game. I didn’t know what to expect, but the moment I stepped into the Dean Dome, I was hooked. The energy, the emotion, the way an entire community rallied behind one team—it was unforgettable.

That season, UNC beat Duke as the underdog, and I joined thousands rushing Franklin Street. The team went on a Cinderella run to the national championship, and I saw firsthand the joy, heartbreak, and deep sense of connection that sports create.

Working for the Carolina Hurricanes took that feeling to a new level. Throughout the season—from thrilling overtime wins and emotional losses to milestone victories—I saw how deeply fans connected to every moment. Then came the playoffs, where I witnessed the team finally break their streak of Eastern Conference Final losses. It wasn’t just one moment of celebration. It was a season-long story of resilience, belief, and shared passion.

That’s when I realized the feeling I had at UNC wasn’t unique to college basketball. Every sport has the power to move people in that same way—I just hadn’t seen it yet.

Now, I use design, writing, and creative strategy to bring those stories to life. Because the best stories in sports aren’t just told through highlights or scores. They live in the emotion, the community, and the moments people never forget.