Nike to become the exclusive oncourt uniform and apparel provider of the WNBA, NBA AND NBA D-League
The NBA and Nike announced an eight-year global merchandising and marketing partnership that will make Nike the official oncourt apparel provider beginning with the 2017-18 NBA season. The company replaces Adidas, the official apparel provider for past decade.
A marketing partner of the WNBA since its inception in 1997, the company will now have an expanded presence at WNBA All-Star and other events throughout the season. Nike will become the first NBA apparel partner to have its logo appear on NBA uniforms. It will also have the global rights to design and manufacture authentic and Swingman jerseys as well as oncourt warm-ups and shooting shirts. Also, for the first time, Nike will become a marketing partner of the NBA D-League.
“This partnership with Nike represents a new paradigm in the structure of our global merchandising business,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. “As our exclusive oncourt apparel provider, Nike will be instrumental in our collective efforts to grow the game globally while applying the latest in technology to the design of our uniforms and oncourt products.”
Last month, Nike announced the signing of the top four draft picks in the 2015 WNBA draft: Jewell Loyd (Seattle), Amanda Zahui Bazoukou (Tulsa), Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (Seattle) and Elizabeth Williams (Connecticut).
The athletic apparel company has signed 50 female athletes across the WNBA’s 12 teams including Seimone Augustus, Sue Bird, Tamika Catchings, Tina Charles, Elena Delle Donne, Skylar Diggins, Candice Dupree, Brittney Griner, Angel McCoughtry, Nneka Ogwumike, Odyssey Sims and Lindsay Whalen.
WNBA legend and current college coach Sheryl Swoopes was the first female basketball player to receive a Nike signature shoe in 1996, the Air Swoopes.
This fall, Nike will introduce new basketball apparel designed by women for women. The new lineup will feature premium performance fabrics for “superior fit and range of movement.”
Nike has served as the footwear and exclusive apparel provider of USA Basketball since 2006.
