There are some major perks to being a Verizon customer.

When you set up a line, you’re automatically enrolled in Verizon Shine, a program that drops one-of-a-kind experiences in the My Verizon app every Monday. Lucky winners have been whisked away to Paris to see Katseye from the front row, treated to breakfast with soccer legend David Beckham followed by seats at the FIFA World Cup Final, and, coming up, will head to the Bahamas to dine on dishes crafted by chef Marcus Samuelsson.

I got a firsthand look at the magic that’s made for customers when the latest experience brought a group of winners together with model, entrepreneur, and WAG Jordyn Woods for a “Get Ready With Me” moment on opening night of the Knicks’ 2026-2027 season. In the Club Verizon Lounge at the iconic Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, winners were glammed up by Saie Beauty, styled in Knicks gear, and gifted accessories from Woods by Jordyn, including her signature Tux Clutch Mini Bag, which has been featured at The Guggenheim. They also had a photo shoot in the lounge. The night capped off with a courtside look at player warm-ups, then seats at the game to watch the Knicks receive their championship rings and take on the Philadelphia 76ers, with NBA legend and new Sixers acquisition LeBron James on the floor.

I was one of the few journalists on hand to see the joy the experience brought the winners and to mingle with guests like style influencer Eni Popoola, model Azariah Cartagena (daughter of Fat Joe), and sports analyst Monica McNutt. I also spoke with Woods herself. In a few minutes, we talked about the whirlwind last few months she’s had, the key to her courtside style, her partnership with Verizon on their loyalty program, and what has and hasn’t changed since saying “I do.”

ESSENCE: I love this ‘fit. Can you tell us what inspired your opening night look?

Jordyn Woods: I was just feeling the gold. I popped out with my new Woods by Jordyn bag in gold to honor the trophy. I have gold accessories and I kind of just wanted to something elevated. Also, one of the things I was supposed to wear showed up when I got here…so I’ll wear it for something else.

You’ve had such a major few months between the championship, the wedding, and the honeymoon. How are you feeling? I know this is a buzzing moment for you.

I think it’ll all hit me next year or when I can slow down. It’s just been go, go, go. So it’s going to definitely be one of those years that I reflect on that I can’t believe we accomplished all of this and pulled it all off. But it’s also, at the same time, we worked so hard to get to these moments that we just got to enjoy it.

What’s one little thing about married life that surprised you so far?

It’s only been two months and everything feels pretty much the same except everyone saying “your husband.” That’s the thing I’m still getting used to. But so far, I mean, we’re kind of doing the same exact thing we’re doing now.

But don’t you love it? You’re like, “Everybody, meet my husband. My husband is calling.”

It actually doesn’t come out that easy.

Okay. Really?

Yeah! It’s just like my…husband!?

[laughs] Got you. And you’ve gone from wedding mode right back into your business era, and that includes brand partnerships like this opportunity to showcase Verizon Shine. What do you love about being able to give everyday people these luxurious experiences for their loyalty?

I mean, truly, it was a blessing for me. I was just excited to connect with people, the community, and give them that experience. That’s what everything’s really about. Verizon’s also been a dream partner. They made this so easy. They did all the heavy lifting and were a great support. It feels awesome. It feels amazing to do it on such an important night too. So overall, it’s been a great experience.

I love that. And let’s get into courtside looks. I know you told me about your ‘fit for tonight, but you’re always in your bag with your style. Literally, you have a bag that’s been in the Guggenheim! When you’re putting together a Knicks game day outfit, what’s the inspiration? How do you come up with it?

I’m just going with the flow. It seems like I put a lot of thought and effort into it, but truly, I figured out what I was wearing yesterday for today, even though I knew this night was coming far in advance. I just have a lot of different pieces, Knicks jackets, and depending on what I feel like for the day, I just choose an item and then I build around it. So I’m like, oh, I want to wear this jacket. Cool. I’ll make an outfit around it quickly. That’s what having a good closet is about too. It’s just having core pieces and then you can build five different outfits around it.

Love that. Okay. And a few fun questions for you: Game day glam or off-duty comfort? Which one do you prefer?

I love my game day glam. It’s fun.

Statement bag or statement shoes?

…Both. Yeah, it’s both.

Are you watching the game or are you watching Karl?

Actually, I’m watching Karl and the game, but mainly Karl because… I have a funny story about that. One of his teammates called me the other day with him and was like, “Do you think I’m not a good player?” Because there’s a photo of him making a shot in the finals and I’m looking away at Karl and everyone else is looking at him and he’s like, “Do I suck or something?” [laughs] I’m like, “I wasn’t paying attention to you.”

[Laughs] And lastly, outside of Karl, who’s your favorite basketball player of all time?

I don’t have a favorite basketball player of all time, but I’m Heir Jordyn. My birthday’s on the 23rd. And my name’s Jordyn, so I’m going to go with Michael Jordan.

We know your orange Woods by Jordyn bag was your lucky charm going into the playoffs. Now you have a gold version. Tell me about the bag and where we can find it. And when?

The gold bag, its first pop-out is tonight, but it will be exclusively available at the Woods by Jordyn pop-up on October 31st and November 1st in Soho on Orange Street.

You’ve experienced the Knicks championship run, and now you’re stepping into the season as Karl’s wife. Does that change the experience in any way?

I’ve been all in since day one, so it doesn’t necessarily change anything. I’m still going to go just as hard as I did before.

Read the original article on Essence.