Nike Highlights Next Generation of Female Athletes with Partnerships and Uniform Collections

BEAVERTON, Ore.-Nike highlights its commitment to the next generation of female athletes with the unveiling of 14 National Team Collections. The company shared the new uniforms at a March 11 event in Paris.

“We believe this summer can be another turning point for the growth of women’s football,” says Mark Parker, CEO of Nike. “And our bigger ambition is for that energy and participation to extend into all sports. Nike’s commitment is to continue our leading support of competitive athletes, invest in the next generation at the grassroots level, and deliver more innovative and compelling product design for women.”

Hosted at the historic Palais Brongniart, Nike revealed an array of uniforms which it touts as “future-forward women’s innovation.” More than 28 of the world’s top female footballers joined Nike to unveil the collection, as did other global athletes.  Record-breaking gymnast Simone Biles, champion fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, two-time Grand Slam winner Li Na, and a host of other champion athletes joined the cast at the event.

In addition to unveiling new apparel innovations at the event, Nike announced partnerships with multiple womens’ sports associations including  UEFA Women’s Football, the WNBA, FIBA, and the Chinese Basketball Association. On the collegiate level, the company says it is partnering with 200-plus U.S. schools to “support more than 25,000 top female athletes across multiple sports.”

Athletes at the unveiling in Paris. (Image courtesy Nike) 

The company says it also plans to address barriers to “girls’ participation in sport through new community partnerships and access to products to help girls play with confidence.” In Paris, Nike says it is partnering with Sport dans la Ville to train female coaches and engage girls through sports ranging from football and boxing to tennis and dance.

“Inspiration for these partnerships comes from female athletes who embody strength, power, and the heart and soul of Nike,” the company says in a press announcement. “Throughout 2019, Nike will honor female champions and changemakers with the next phase of its ‘Just Do It’ campaign, which has inspired millions of athletes to chase their crazy dreams.”

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