BOSTON and NEW YORK – New Balance and the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) today announced a multiyear agreement aimed at elevating women’s sports and inspiring the next generation of fans and athletes alike.

This new relationship with the WNBA will enable New Balance to expand its presence in basketball, alongside an organization renowned for advocating for women’s sports. The deal tips off midway through the season, just ahead of WNBA All-Star 2024, coinciding with the arrival of one of the most exciting draft classes, which will help in further amplifying women’s basketball like never before.

The partnership will establish New Balance as an official partner of the WNBA. Together, both brands will continue to push the boundaries of sport and transform the game through grassroots initiatives aimed at growing youth basketball and authentic community engagement.

As part of the deal, New Balance will create authentic broadcast, digital and retail content featuring New Balance athlete and WNBA rookie Cameron Brink. Cameron, the second-overall selection in the WNBA Draft 2024 presented by State Farm, signed an NIL deal with New Balance in 2023. The partnership enables Cameron to continue empowering young athletes to fearlessly overcome obstacles and pursue their dreams, both in basketball and in life.

“This relationship with the WNBA is another example of New Balance encouraging all young athletes, particularly women and girls, to pursue their athletic goals and ignite a new era of female empowerment through sport,” says Jess Vassall, New Balance Head of Global Partnerships.

“The partnership with New Balance is yet another positive step in our efforts to grow women’s sports across new audiences, incentivize youth participation and positively influence communities,” said Colie Edison, WNBA Chief Growth Officer.  “By aligning ourselves with a global brand like New Balance, we continue to push the envelope of what’s possible when we tap into the unifying power of sport.”

For more information, please visit www.newbalance.com/basketball/.

About New Balance
New Balance, headquartered in Boston, MA, has the following purpose: Independent since 1906, we empower people through sport and craftsmanship to create positive change in communities around the world.  New Balance employs 9,000 associates around the globe, and in 2023 reported worldwide sales of $6.5 billion. New Balance owns five athletic footwear factories in New England and one in Flimby, U.K.  New Balance MADE U.S. footwear contains a domestic value of 70% or more and makes up a limited portion of New Balance’s U.S. sales.  To learn more about New Balance, please visit www.newbalance.com; for the latest press information visit http://newbalance.newsmarket.com. 

About the WNBA
The WNBA is a bold, progressive basketball league that stands for the power of women. Featuring 12 teams and in its 28th season in 2024, the W is a unique sports property that combines competition and entertainment with a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and social responsibility. Through its world-class athletes, the in-game fan experience, TV and digital broadcasts, digital and social content, and community and youth outreach programs, the league celebrates and elevates the game of basketball and the culture around it. In 2020, the WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) signed a groundbreaking CBA that has charted a new course for women’s basketball – and women’s sports overall – with a focus on increased player compensation, improvements to the player experience, expanded career development opportunities and resources specifically tailored to the female professional athlete. Key elements of the agreement are supported through the league’s partnership platform, the WNBA Changemakers Collective, with AT&T, the WNBA’s Marquee Partner and inaugural Changemaker, as well as fellow inaugural Changemakers Deloitte and NIKE, Inc., and subsequent additions Google, U.S. Bank and CarMax. During the 2020 season, the WNBA and WNBPA launched the WNBA Justice Movement forming the Social Justice Council with the mission of being a driving force of necessary change and continuing work regarding women’s and maternal health and voting rights, among other important societal issues.