Steph Curry was used to long days—charity clinics, sponsor meetings, team dinners, and the endless parade of fans. But nothing could have prepared him for the moment when, late one evening in a quiet Oakland hotel room, he reached into his jacket and pulled out a small, folded piece of paper and a hand-braided bracelet. The note, slipped into his pocket by a shy 11-year-old girl named Zoe Johnson, would change not just his night, but his very understanding of what it meant to be a champion.
The World of Zoe Johnson
For Zoe, mornings always began before the sun. Not out of excitement for school, but out of habit—a habit born from worry. Every day, she would tiptoe to her grandmother’s room, heart pounding, to make sure Margaret Johnson was still breathing. Since the accident that claimed her parents three years ago, Zoe and her grandmother had been each other’s world. Their little Oakland home was filled with love, but also with the quiet strain of medical bills, overdue notices, and the ever-present fear of what tomorrow might bring.
Margaret, a retired nurse, did her best to shield Zoe from the worst of it. But Zoe saw everything—the trembling hands struggling to open pill bottles, the way her grandmother would cut her medication in half to make it last, the quiet tears shed at the kitchen table late at night. Zoe felt helpless, but she never let her grandmother see her cry. Instead, she found hope in the one thing that always brought them both joy: Golden State Warriors games.
Steph Curry, with his dazzling smile and improbable three-pointers, was more than just a basketball player to Zoe. He was proof that the underdog could win, that hard work and heart could overcome even the toughest odds. On the wall above Zoe’s bed, posters of Curry reminded her to keep fighting, no matter what.
A Dream and a Plan
One morning, Zoe spotted an announcement in the local newspaper: Steph Curry would be hosting a charity basketball clinic at the Oakland community center. Zoe’s heart leapt. Maybe, just maybe, she could see her hero in person. With her grandmother’s encouragement, she entered the lottery for a spot at the clinic. But when the results came in, her name wasn’t on the list.
Still, Zoe refused to give up. She decided to go to the community center anyway, hoping for a glimpse of Curry through the windows. Before she left, she wrote a letter—carefully, painstakingly, erasing and rewriting until the words felt just right. She braided a bracelet, blue and yellow for the Warriors, with a single red thread. “Red is for courage and heart,” her grandmother always said. Zoe would need both.
The Meeting
With her neighbor Mrs. Jackson by her side, Zoe waited outside the bustling community center, nose pressed to the glass. Inside, Curry dazzled the lucky kids, teaching them to dribble and shoot. Just as Zoe was about to give up hope, a social worker named Tracy—a familiar face from her grandmother’s medical appointments—recognized her. When Tracy learned about the note and the bracelet, she promised to try to help.
After the event, as Curry made his way to the parking lot, Tracy intercepted him. “Mr. Curry, this is Zoe. She has something for you.” Curry knelt down, and Zoe, trembling with nerves, handed him the bracelet and the note. “Please read it when you have time,” she whispered.
The Note
That night, after a whirlwind of obligations, Curry finally sat alone and opened Zoe’s letter. The words, written in a child’s careful hand, hit him like a punch to the gut:
“Dear Mr. Curry,
My name is Zoe Johnson and I am 11 years old. My grandmother Margaret is all I have in the world since my parents went to live with the angels three years ago. She used to be a nurse and helped many people. But now she is the one who needs help.
Last week, I saw her cutting her pills in half. She was crying. She said sometimes medicine needs to be economized, just like money. I’m scared of losing her too.
When we watch you play, it’s the only time I see her smile. I’m not asking for anything. I just wanted you to know that some people, like my grandmother, are champions every day, even without trophies.
The bracelet I made for you has blue and yellow for the Warriors, and a red thread for courage and heart. If you ever feel like giving up, remember there’s a grandmother in Oakland who never does.
With respect,
Zoe Johnson
P.S. Sorry for the stains on the paper. They weren’t meant to be tears, but it happened.”
By the end, Curry’s own tears fell. He read the note twice, then called his wife, Ayesha, and read it to her. “We have to find them,” she said, voice trembling.
The Visit
The next morning, Curry’s foundation team tracked down Zoe and Margaret with Tracy’s help. They arrived at the Johnsons’ modest home, Curry still wearing the bracelet Zoe had made. Zoe returned from school to find her idol sitting in her living room.
“Your note reminded me what really matters,” Curry told her, showing the bracelet. “Sometimes we get lost in success and forget the real impact is off the court.” Margaret wept as Curry explained that his foundation would cover her medical costs and set up an education fund for Zoe. “Why?” Zoe asked, still in disbelief. “Because your courage inspired me,” Curry replied.
A New Beginning
Before leaving, Curry joined Zoe for a game of one-on-one in the backyard, praising her shooting form and promising to send a coach to help her develop her skills. He handed her two tickets for that night’s Warriors game—front row, with special arrangements for Margaret’s care.
That evening, as Curry took the court, he wore Zoe’s bracelet proudly. When he spotted Zoe and Margaret in the crowd, he pointed to his wrist, then to his heart. The cameras captured the gesture, but only a few understood its true meaning.
The Legacy of a Note
For Zoe and Margaret, life changed that day—not just because of the financial help, but because someone had seen them, heard them, and cared. For Curry, the note was a reminder that the greatest victories aren’t measured in points or trophies, but in the lives we touch.
Sometimes, it takes the courage of a child and the heart of a grandmother to remind a superstar what being a champion really means. And sometimes, a simple note can change everything.
9-Year-Old Girl Writes A Letter To NBA Star Steph Curry Complaining His Shoes Are Only For Boys, He Responds With A Gift
Stephen Curry is an NBA star who, according to his coach, is not only a great player but “an equally impressive human being [as well].” This week, a 9-year-old from Napa, California, decided to write the NBA star a letter – she wanted to get a pair of Under Armour’s ‘Stephen Curry’ shoes for her new hoops season, but could not find any online. 9-year-old Riley was frustrated that the new Curry 5 sneakers were only available in boy’s and men’s sizes. Naturally, the girl decided to take her problem straight to the top.
This week, NBA star Stephen Curry received a letter from a 9-year-old basketball player
Image credits: TechCrunch
The girl was concerned about not being able to find her favorite shoes in girls’ sizes
Image credits: morn24
“My daughter’s letter to Steph Curry. Her way of attempting to make a difference. Proud of her”
Image credits: morn24
Riley Morrison’s father decided to put up his daughter’s letter online, stating that it’s “her way of attempting to make a difference.” In the letter, Riley explained that she and her dad were disappointed to find that Under Armour is selling the Curry 5 basketball shoes specifically to boys. Riley’s letter then continues, “I know you support girl athletes because you have two daughters and you host an all-girls basketball camp.” And, she adds, “I hope you can work with Under Armour to change this, because girls want to rock the Curry 5s, too.”
The letter from the young basketball player wasn’t left unnoticed – Stephen Curry wrote her back and posted his response on Twitter
Image credits: StephenCurry30
Curry wrote her back, saying that “Unfortunately we have labeled smaller sizes ‘boys’ on the website and we are correcting this NOW.” But that wasn’t all – the NBA star stated that he would be sending Riley “a pair of Curry 5’s”. He also mentioned that he is planning something special on Women’s Day and is hoping that the 9-year-old could celebrate together with him in Oakland.
Riley’s father thanked Curry for making his daughter happy
Image credits: Morn24
Since Thursday, the issue with boys’ and girls’ sizes on the Under Armour website has been fixed
Image credits: Under Armour
Now, the Curry sneakers are indeed available in the girls’ section. If this story taught us anything, is that you’re never too young be a social activist!
People really enjoyed seeing such a kind gesture from Steph Curry
