To celebrate the end of this year’s March Madness, Las Vegas is leaning into the “go big or go home” vibes. BetMGM is premiering “The Court of Legends,” a speakeasy-style basketball experience hidden inside Bellagio Las Vegas this weekend, and it’s something basketball fans are going to want to see.
Featuring a high-tech LED court, the space will host a lineup of invitation only events and influencer-led basketball showcases throughout the weekend, with the highlight being Haley and Hanna Cavinder’s first-ever head-to-head showdown on Sunday. Fans can catch all the action of “Cavinder v. Cavinder Live from Vegas” on X, YouTube, and the BetMGM app on Sunday, April 5 at 8 p.m. ET.
The Blast got a sneak peek at the unique, hidden space, and a chance to chat with one of the basketball influencers participating in Saturday night’s event about the exciting “Court of Legends.”
Speakeasy Vibes, March Madness Excitement, And A Hidden Basketball Court At Bellagio
Inside one of Las Vegas’ most iconic resorts, BetMGM is redefining March with the “Court of Legends,” an invite-only event that mixes hoops, high stakes, and a Sin City spectacle like never before.
From VIP creators to an epic sister-vs-sister showdown between Haley and Hanna Cavinder, this isn’t just basketball. It’s an exclusive, behind the scenes Vegas experience designed to be legendary during a time when basketball fans are bringing excitement and energy to the “Entertainment Capital of the World.”
This never-done-before activation will really get basketball enthusiasts in the high-energy moment of the last weekend of March Madness. BetMGM CMO Casey Hurbis shared some insight ahead of the weekend with The Blast.
“The Court of Legends was inspired by BetMGM’s ambition to create a never-been-done-before moment for March Matchups – something that captures the excitement of March while delivering an experience only BetMGM could pull off,” Hurbis shared. “Our challenge was simple: Find the bold answer, because if it’s easy, everyone would do it.”
‘Court Of Legends’ Hosts Exclusive Influencer-Driven Basketball Challenges
On Saturday, the “Court of Legends” will be hosting exclusive influencer-driven exhibitions. Jazz Ducker, a high school basketball coach, private skills trainer, and basketball influencer, will be participating in the skills challenge event.
Jazz, who flew into Vegas on Friday from New York City, was practicing and getting ready for the exciting event when The Blast toured the space. After watching her impress the room with her basketball skills, she took some time to chat with The Blast exclusively about the event.
She shared that she’s been playing basketball since very early in childhood and her high school coach, who was really tough on her, helped to push her to be the “greatest version” of herself.
“Basketball has always been a passion of mine,” she said. “I met this guy named Ant and we became best friends. We met at the basketball court and we kept playing together. We both started posting on social media but he stayed very consistent with it.”
She explained that he suggested that she post more consistently and challenged her to post once a day for 30 days.
“Last March, I had like 15,000 followers, and he said post once a day for 30 days and see what happens,” she said. “And I did that and I kept posting and I now have like 77,000 on Instagram and 74,000 on Facebook.”
Jazz Ducker Is ‘Excited’ For The Event
She also shared that being a girls’ basketball coach and having a program with character building that uses basketball has helped to continue to inspire her to do more with the sport. This has become such a passion for her and she’s continually trying to grow her career in basketball through as many outlets as possible.
Jazz will be performing in Saturday night’s trick shot competition. This visit to Vegas is also her first time ever in Sin City, which brings a little added excitement for her.
“I’m really excited but I am a little nervous because I’ve never performed anything like this in front of a crowd,” she said. “I am really excited and a little nervous, but I feel like if I can help inspire other girls, it means a lot to me.”
Her message to the younger generation is to remember that “to be good in anything requires a lot of practice,” and “always believe in yourself.” She also reminded to “never give up and stay consistent.”
Other attendees for the weekend events include trickshot athletes, Alan Palesano and Franklin Session, and audience creators Ashley Chevalier, Hanna Williford, Leonella Montalvo, Ryan Swaze, Adam Garfield, and Dipika Dutt. WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes will be the MC for the events.
Hanna And Haley Cavinder Face Off For Epic Weekend Finale
Twins Haley and Hanna Cavinder, basketball stars and social media influencers known for their impressive skills on and off the court, will be hitting the “Court of Legends” on Sunday night for an epic head-to-head matchup that will be nationally streamed.
In 2021 after the NCAA’s decision to allow student-athletes to profit from NIL (name, image, and likeness), the sisters were among the first student athletes to secure deals. They played at California State University, Fresno and the University of Miami. Haley also signed with Texas Christian University before decommitting and returning to Miami for their final year of eligibility.
And this weekend, the sisters will once again hit the court together in a 1-v-1 on the “Court of Legends” inside Bellagio.
As the twins get ready for this weekend’s matchup, they told PEOPLE they’ve always tried to keep basketball in their lives in interesting ways.
“We used to do this growing up for who wants to do the dishes, who wants to do laundry,” Hanna said. “We’d be going to play basketball one-on-one outside on our court every day.”
The Cavinder Twins Recently Reflected On Their Basketball Careers
During a recent interview with PEOPLE, the sisters, 24, reflected on their basketball days and what it was like leaving it behind.
“I think it was heartbreaking,” Haley said. “Basketball was my identity for 24 years. So being able to just understand that this year is a chapter of growth and understanding what life without basketball looks like for us.”
Haley further shared that they didn’t exactly have the same opinions on what to do following their college basketball retirement.
“Usually we’re very, very similar when it comes to making decisions. I would say I didn’t know if I want to go pro. I think I had the option to,” Haley explained. “I love the game, but I knew at the end of the day, I just wanted to go out the way I started: with my twin sister, and start our business and our life post-athletes.”
Hanna added, “It’s hard being a college athlete when you have so many things to navigate within branding yourself, team practices, being students. So I was just kind of ready to tie them up. Obviously, basketball gave us this and we owe basketball everything, but I was done at the time.”
She added with a laugh, “I wasn’t good enough to go pro. Haley was. She could have gotten drafted.”
Tune into the live stream on Sunday on X, YouTube, and the BetMGM app at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.