The WNBA holds a special spot in the heart of many fans. When you look at other leagues, they seem to have some stability when it comes to their perspective drafts. NIKE HQ has stepped up to the plate and for the second year in a row, the WNBA Draft was held at the HQ in New York City.
Lights, camera, action. When you arrive to NIKE HQ, especially for the Draft, you immediately feel at home because not only were there new partnerships announced, which further pushes women’s sports, you know that your respected here. Since covering the WNBA Draft, there have been sporadic locations and since settling at NIKE HQ, it’s made me feel that this league is actually respected there.
This week has been a busy week for WNBA. New jerseys were announced, new initiatives were also announced:
Focusing on unique player movements and temperature-regulation needs, the new uniforms are specifically designed for female athletes and feature player numbers on the back of the jerseys with more prominent team logos on the front. Additionally, in celebration of women’s basketball, Nike is working to elevate the global profile of women’s basketball through partnerships with FIBA, new community programs for young female athletes, and pilot programs to support retired athletes.
If you also notice, even the fresh new logo reinforces this statement.
In addition, there is support between former players and newcomers:
To facilitate the career transitions for former players into sport-based professions, Nike teamed up with the WNBA to inaugurate W.I.N. (Women in Nike), a pilot program that will place a selection of retired athletes in full-time positions at Nike’s World Headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon.
Straight up- this partnership is probably something the league needed. It’s evident that NIKE cares about women’s sports.
The WNBA regular season returns on May 24. Did you buy your jersey yet?