By Ben Nicholson
October 1 – The NWSL has extended its partnership with Nike through 2019, thus meaning that Nike will remain as the league’s official club kit, apparel and equipment, supplier of the league balls, and provider for all NWSL teams present and future.
Nike will also extend the opportunity to the NWSL to collaborate on innovation initiatives in soccer technology and design and provide sport science resources to NWSL teams.
The pair’s partnership began in 2012, before the league had grown to be the globally dominant league for women’s soccer. Fifty-seven NWSL players attended the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, representing eleven different nations.
Off the back of the record setting tournament, the NWSL has broken domestic records for attendance: selling out 18 of 44 matches and seeing a 29% increase on average figures since the close of the tournament.
The apparent sustainability of the NWSL is novel for no other professional women’s soccer league has survived more than three seasons in the United States, and the renewed partnership with Nike only suggests greater things are to come.
Carli Lloyd, of the Houston Dash and U.S. Women’s National Team, alluded to this in her comment on the deal: “This deal is really about the future of the league. For women’s soccer to continue to flourish, we need partners like Nike who are committed. In past, there’s always been a huge question mark around the future. Now, the stage is set for continued success at the national level, as well as the club level.”
Nike’s partnership with US Women’s soccer predates their partnership with the NWSL. Since 1995 Nike has sponsored the U.S. Women’s national team and has even named one of the buildings in Nike’s World Headquarters after U.S. female icon, Mia Hamm.
NWSL Commissioner, Jeff Plush, stated: “Nike has been an outstanding partner and shares our long-term vision for progress, innovation, and player development. We have enjoyed a tremendous start to our journey together, and we continue to look for ways to elevate soccer in this country to new heights.”
Sunil Gulati, USSF President, chipped in: “As the league grows, Nike’s continuing support will be instrumental in growing the women’s game domestically and also globally.”
North America General Manager of Soccer for Nike, Andrea Perez, said: “This extension not only gives soccer fans more opportunities to see their favorite athletes in action, but it also reinforces Nike’s overall leadership in women’s soccer, helping to grow the women’s game beyond where it stands today.”
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