New Balance partners with WNBA, featuring injured player in campaigns, aiming to grow in basketball.

From CNBC: 2024-07-16 09:00:01

The Los Angeles Sparks player Cameron Brink signed a multiyear deal with New Balance to become an official partner of the WNBA, joining Adidas, Nike, Puma, and Under Armour. Financial details were not disclosed. Brink, who suffered an ACL tear, will miss the rest of the 2024 season but will be featured in lifestyle and performance campaigns. New Balance aims to grow its share in basketball and women’s sports, leveraging its success with NBA stars like Kawhi Leonard and MLB pitcher Shohei Ohtani. In 2023, New Balance reported $6.5 billion in sales, with double-digit growth in footwear and apparel globally for three years in a row. The company is also expanding its presence with 90 new stores planned for 2024. The WNBA, enjoying a surge in popularity, is averaging 1.2 million viewers per game, thanks to rising stars like Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever. With attendance up 16% from last season, the league looks to create a new economic model for long-term sustainability.



Read more at CNBC: New Balance, WNBA sign multiyear partnership