From StudBudz to the RunBudz
Natisha Hiedeman’s latest community engagement.
The StudBudz (Natisha Hiedeman and Courtney Williams) have exploded in popularity since the creation of their Twitch Channel and Livestream in May 2025. Back then, they were teammates on the Minnesota Lynx’s roster. They would stream during off days, during their road trips, and most famously during All-Star Weekend, where they hosted a 72-hour event.
Like any YouTuber or Twitch Streamer, it’s all about personality, and Hiedeman and Williams are excellent in that regard. But it’s also about community engagement. Something that Twitch exemplifies with its online chat rooms. It allows fans to feel they’re truly part of the group. And it gives them a unique opportunity to interact with their favorite celebrities/athletes. As of this writing, the duo has nearly 120,000 followers on Twitch. They have over 160,000 followers on Instagram.
While the StudBudz remain, the two are no longer playing on the same WNBA team. During the offseason, Natisha Hiedeman signed a two-year deal with the Seattle Storm. With her strong play on the court and her fun personality off of it, “T” quickly became a fan favorite in the Pacific Northwest. And she endeared herself to the community early on by admiring the beautiful nature of the region. More specifically, The Mountain.
That would be Mount Rainier for those unfamiliar. The tallest mountain in Washington State stands at more than 14,400 feet. It is also considered one of the most dangerous active volcanoes in the United States. But it’s also a thing of beauty. And something that Natisha fell in love with after moving to Seattle.
Because of the weather in this region, Mount Rainier can “disappear” from time to time. That fact blew Hiedeman’s mind, and she would start asking every day if the mountain was out. Fans loved it, and it became a regular bit early on during the Storm’s season.
As we’re about to enter the final month of the WNBA season, Hiedeman has found another way to endear herself and engage with the community. She has apparently started a Run Club; RunBudz to be exact!
What started as maybe a joke, or just a whim, has become the next big thing in Seattle. On Tuesday evening, I was invited to come to Green Lake and interview Hiedeman alongside other members of the media. What I witnessed was something very cool.
When asked why she started a run club, Hiedeman responded, “Honestly, just sitting at home one day. I’m like, let’s just go for a little run. First one, I think 23 people were there. And then I did another one a couple days later, which is why we’re all here. As you can see, a lot of people here already. We got a little bit of time, so I just want to bring people together, community together, get out, exercise, be outside, have a good time, and I mean, I just think it’s important to get outside and exercise as well.”
There were a lot of people there. It looked to be at least 150-200 people.
T was asked if she enjoyed running.
“I feel like when I did it the first time, we ran 1.55, and it was like, I felt like so accomplished, because I’m not really, y’all know, I’d be sprinting on the court. I never ran like a mile or a mile and a half ever... So I just felt super accomplished after that.”
It’s one thing to want to get out and exercise for one’s own personal gain. But to encourage a large group of people to better themselves is even more impressive. And Natisha really appreciates the love and support she’s received.