Rahul NareshFollowing are the organisations serving as sponsors and brand partners to the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and enjoying a strong branding presence across its physical and digital assets for the 2023 season.
Also read: NBA Sponsors 2023/24
AT&T
As the Official 5G Innovation Partner of both the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the WNBA, AT&T expanded its collaborative relationship with the two leagues in July 2021. Having kicked off in 2019, the cooperation thus continues to develop fan-first experiences to improve the fans’ in-stadium and at-home sporting experiences.
Within the WNBA app, AT&T is experimenting with several game-changing AR innovations for spectators, which includes more exhaustive coverage of their favourite teams apart from new mini-games.
CarMax
CarMax, an American retailer of used cars, announced in December 2020 a new partnership with the NBA and the WNBA, partnering with the latter as a Changemaker, which the league describes as organisations “deeply invested in driving positive change for the WNBA, women’s sports, and women in society. Not only are these partners providing financial investment, but they are further elevating the league and players through marketing amplification and close strategic collaboration.”
As part of the multi-year agreement, CarMax serves as the official auto retailer of the NBA and the WNBA—the first automotive retail partnership in WNBA history—as well as the presenting partner of NBA Tip-Off on TNT.
Also read: Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) renews CarMax partnership
The WNBA announced in May 2021 that it had on-boarded Google as a Changemaker as part of a multi-year deal that would help in driving engagement.
As part of the deal, Google serves as the Presenting Partner of the WNBA Playoffs as well as an Associate Partner of the WNBA All-Star Game and the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup.
In July 2023, the two parties renewed their partnership, which is now set to run until 2025.
Also read: Google extends WNBA Changemakers partnership through 2025
Deloitte
In January 2020, Deloitte was announced as the Official Professional Services Provider of the WNBA on a multi-year contract. It also became the first company to become a WNBA Changemaker.
As part of the deal, the two parties work together on business development and transformation while also taking up other initiatives that would benefit players, fans and the sport in general. To meet these goals, Deloitte uses its understanding of AI, AR and VR technologies.
Nike
American sportswear company Nike is not only an Official Partner of the WNBA but has also made an equity investment in the league, which was announced in February 2022.
The deal between Nike and the WNBA has been signed for 25 years, which sees the sports company also serve as a WNBA Changemaker.
As part of the deal, the two are to work together towards deepening the storytelling of the WNBA and bring more girls into basketball by bettering the grassroots system of the sport.
U.S. Bank
In March 2022, it was announced that U.S. Bank had agreed to become the Official Bank as well as a Changemaker of the WNBA on a multi-year deal.
As part of the deal, U.S. Bank serves as the Official Bank for marquee league events like the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup presented by Coinbase, the AT&T WNBA All-Star Game, and the WNBA Draft presented by State Farm.
The bank also aims to create financial awareness and educate people across the country by creating programmes and providing resources, which are also provided to WNBA players and allow them to network and gain access to mentorship opportunities.
Skims
An American clothing brand founded by Kim Kardashian, Skims was announced as the Official Underwear partner of the NBA, the WNBA and USA Basketball in October 2023.
As part of the deal, Skims gains visibility through in-game signage, national broadcasts as well as the leagues’ official social and digital platforms.
Mielle
Mielle, a woman-led beauty company based out of Merrillville, Indiana, was announced as an Official Marketing Partner as well as the Official Textured Hair Care Partner of the WNBA on a multi-year deal in July 2023.
As per this deal, Mielle also serves as an Associate Partner to WNBA Live, which provides fans the chance to celebrate unique moments from the league, teams, players and more.
Further, Mielle gains visibility through the league’s media partners and digital assets, which include its mobile application as well as the online website.
Discount Tire
As part of this deal, both Discount Tire and Continental Tire gain visibility through TV visual signage and on-court virtual signage during nationwide WNBA broadcasts as well as via social media other digital sites.
PlayStation
In May 2023, Sony Interactive Entertainment signed a multi-year partnership agreement with the WNBA, thus becoming the league’s official console and marketing partner.
Meta Quest
In January 2023, the NBA and Meta Quest, the official VR headset of the NBA and WNBA, announced a partnership extension.
Thanks to the latest agreement, fans have the opportunity to gain a new virtual reality experience through Meta Horizon Worlds.
The E. W. Scripps Company
The E. W. Scripps Company, a Cincinnati, Ohio-based American broadcasting company founded in 1878, signed a multi-year agreement with the WNBA to televise the Friday-night matches of its regular season on national entertainment network ION in April 2023.
Hennesy
In October 2023, cognac brand Hennessy decided to sign a multi-year extension with the NBA, the WNBA, the NBA G League, USA Basketball, and the Basketball Africa League.
Peloton
Fitness product manufacturing company Peloton joined forces with the NBA and WNBA through an announcement made in October 2023, becoming their Official Fitness Partner.
The multi-year agreement sees the NBA League pass made available across all Peloton devices. The company also develops themed fitness classes for the NBA and WNBA.
Buzzer
Buzzer, a live sports look-in platform, renewed its multi-year contract with the NBA and WNBA, expanding upon its existing collaborations, in October 2022.
As per the extensions, Buzzer continues to function as a distributor for the NBA and WNBA League Passes and outside-the-market live game streaming services, while also offering pay-per-view (PPV) access to significant game periods.
Tissot
In October 2021, the NBA and Tissot announced a multi-year renewal of their marketing collaboration. This arrangement builds on the previous one the two signed in 2015.
The collaboration continues to promote Tissot’s precise timekeeping, performance and style to NBA fans all over the world. Tissot serves as the Official Watch and Official Timekeeper of the NBA, the WNBA and the NBA G League.
Ticketmaster
Ticketmaster, a global marketer in ticketing, announced in December 2021 an extension of its ticketing partnership with the NBA, which began in 2012 and was further renewed in February 2018.
This agreement makes Ticketmaster a league-wide partner for primary and secondary ticketing for the NBA as well as the WNBA and the G League.
Oculus
Oculus, a Meta-owned VR tech company, was named the NBA’s official marketing partner in August 2020.
Oculus serves as the first-ever VR headset partner of the NBA, the WNBA, and the NBA G League thanks to this multi-year agreement.
New Era
The NBA and American headwear manufacturer New Era announced an expanded global licensing partnership in October 2016, which made the latter the official authentic headwear supplier of the NBA, the WNBA, and the NBA Development League.
Mondel?z International
In March 2021, Mondel?z International and the NBA announced a multi-year licensing and marketing agreement, the former becoming an official partner of the NBA, the WNBA, the G-League, the NBA 2K series, the NBA 2K League, and USA Basketball in the process.
LegalZoom
LegalZoom, an online platform for legal, compliance and tax solutions, announced in January 2022 “Fast Break for Small Business”, a multi-year community effort launched in collaboration with the NBA, the WNBA, and the NBA G League via which it offered its services as well as US$6 million in grants to thousands of small businesses across the US.
Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente, an American healthcare company, agreed to a multi-year partnership with the NBA in January 2015.
As per the deal, Kaiser Permanente serves as the Official Health Care Partner of the NBA, the WNBA, the NBA D-League, and USA Basketball.
Clorox
Founded in 1913, The Clorox Company is an American multinational manufacturer and marketer of health and disinfection products.
The NBA and The Clorox Company announced a multi-year deal in March 2021, the latter becoming the Official Cleaning Partner of the NBA and the WNBA in the process.
YouTube TV
In March 2018, prior to the 2017/18 NBA Finals, YouTube TV and the NBA reached a marketing agreement which made the former an official partner of the latter.
As per the deal, the June Championship Round of the NBA was known as “The Finals Presented by YouTube TV”. The WNBA Finals and the NBA G League were also granted identical branding rights by the Google-owned virtual multichannel video programming distributor (MVPD).
Beats by Dre
In September 2018, the NBA and Beats by Dre, an Apple-owned global premium headphone brand co-founded by Dr. Dre (Andre Romell Young), announced a comprehensive marketing and merchandising partnership.
Since October 2018, Beats has served as the official headphone, wireless speaker and audio partner of the NBA, the WNBA, the NBA G League, and USA Basketball.
American Express
The NBA has been working with American Express (Amex), a New York-headquartered American multinational financial services corporation, for more than two decades.
The NBA and Amex last renewed their agreement in October 2021, with the latter becoming the official credit card of the WNBA, the NBA, and the G-League while also adding value to the NBA 2K series. When purchasing NBA 2K22 through the online 2K store, for example, Amex members received 35,000 in in-game currency.
Kia
The Korean automaker has partnered with the NBA since 2019, serving as its official vehicle partner.
According to the agreement, Kia America serves as the league’s Official Car supplier as well as the Official Automotive Partner of the NBA, the WNBA, and the NBA G League.
PepsiCo
The NBA and PepsiCo announced a multi-year contract arrangement in March 2021, extending the deal that originally kicked off in 2015.
As per the 2021 extension agreement, PepsiCo continues to serve as the official soft drink and snack of the NBA, the WNBA, and the NBA Gatorade League.
Before 2015, PepsiCo and the NBA had in place a 28-year partnership reportedly worth US$10 million. The current deal between the two parties includes the following PepsiCo brands: Mountain Dew, Aquafina, Brisk, Doritos and Ruffles.
Moët Hennessy
A cognac retailer, Moët Hennessy established a multi-year collaboration with the NBA in February 2020, becoming the Official Spirit of the NBA, the WNBA and USA Basketball in the process.
DoorDash
A multi-year sponsorship agreement between the NBA and food delivery company DoorDash was signed in August 2020, with the intention of highlighting black-owned eateries.
With the implementation of the agreement for the NBA post-season, DoorDash became the first on-demand delivery service for the NBA, the WNBA, and the NBA 2K League. Every time a user ordered from a black-owned restaurant featured on DoorDash during August 2020, DoorDash donated US$1 to the National Urban League as part of the #PlayItForward social media campaign.
Coinbase
The NBA agreed to its first-ever cryptocurrency sponsorship contract in October 2021 with Coinbase, a publicly-traded business that operates a cryptocurrency exchange.
The WNBA, the NBA G League, the NBA 2K League, and USA Basketball are just a few of the platforms that Coinbase uses in accordance with the deal.
ServiceNow
In October 2020, ServiceNow was recognised as the first Official Workflow Partner of the NBA and WNBA.
As per the terms dictated by this agreement, both the NBA and the WNBA rely on ServiceNow to provide the tools and technologies required to build and optimise operations. The two leagues are able to carry out crucial on-boarding and health screening procedures thanks to ServiceNow’s workflows, which help foster a safer environment on their campuses.
SAP
In 2012, SAP, a German business analytics software company, partnered with the NBA, the WNBA, and the NBA G League to leverage data and analytics through NBA.com/stats to transform the leagues’ fan experience.
Wilson
Wilson has served as the NBA’s official ball supplier since the start of its 2021/22 season thanks to a multi-year agreement signed in May 2020.
Since 1983, the NBA had utilised official Spalding game balls, which were replaced by Nike balls after the 2020/21 season. Up until the 1982/83 season, Wilson had been the manufacturer of NBA balls since the league’s inaugural season in 1946.
Wilson also assumes the role of the official ball for the WNBA, the NBA G League, the NBA 2K League, and the Basketball Africa League as per its latest agreement with the NBA. The 2022 WNBA season, the 2021/22 NBA G League season, and the 2021 NBA 2K League season all saw the introduction of the Wilson ball.
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