Shaping the Energy of NBA Games with Music
DJ Poizon Ivy, born Ivy Winfrey, has changed the way fans and players experience NBA games. As the official DJ for the Dallas Mavericks, she is responsible for selecting music that hypes up the crowd and motivates players before tip-off.
She considers her role more than just playing songs. “Music is so powerful,” she told Olympics.com. “There are games where the energy I brought made a real difference.” She believes the right music can act as a “sixth man,” influencing the game’s momentum.
Her influence goes beyond the Mavericks’ locker room. She has DJed at six NBA All-Star games, making her the first woman to perform behind the decks at these major events. Despite the historic nature of her achievements, she focuses more on paving the way for others than on personal recognition.
From Kenya to the NBA: A Passion for Music and Sports
Born in Kenya, DJ Poizon Ivy moved to Dallas, Texas, as a child. Growing up, she spent hours watching basketball with her uncles, fueling her love for the game. Her first step into the NBA world was as a ball kid for the Mavericks.
But her love for music was equally strong. While studying at Marquette University, she juggled seven jobs, from interning at radio stations to working for the school’s athletics department. She quickly saw a connection between sports and music. “Athletes love music, and music brings energy to the game,” she explained. This realization shaped her career.
She started small, DJing in her kitchen before landing gigs at concerts and sports events. Her breakthrough came when WNBA star Skylar Diggins-Smith hired her to DJ at a youth basketball camp. That opportunity opened doors, leading her to work with the Dallas Wings and, eventually, the Mavericks.
Breaking Barriers as the NBA’s Second Female DJ
When DJ Poizon Ivy joined the Mavericks in 2016, she became the first Black woman and only the second woman ever to hold an NBA team DJ position. Before her, Emily Thornhill, also known as DJ Thornstryker, had worked with the Detroit Pistons.
She brought her own style to the job, integrating diverse musical genres to match the players’ backgrounds. “I knew our point guard, J.J. Barea, loved reggaeton, so I played reggaeton warmups for him. That made me think—if I can play reggaeton, why not Afrobeat?” she recalled. This mindset led her to introduce more international music, including Slovenian tracks for Luka Doncic.
Despite being a pioneer, she avoids focusing too much on being the first. “When you’re the first, you can’t mess it up for others. You can’t complain about spaces looking the way they do—you have to be the change they see,” she said.
Using Music to Inspire and Mentor Young Women
DJ Poizon Ivy’s impact extends far beyond basketball arenas. She is passionate about mentoring young women in the music industry, using her platform to guide aspiring female DJs.
She also balances her career with being a mother to her 12-year-old daughter, Kyani. “I’m a mom first. If you see me, she’s somewhere behind me,” she said. Her experiences as a mother shape her approach to mentorship.
Her ultimate goal is to help other women see themselves in roles they never imagined. “I want to be a mirror through which women see, accept, and find themselves. If I can be a catalyst for that, I’m fine,” she said.
Leave a Reply