NBA and WNBA Ink Landmark 12-Year Extension With Nike

American sportswear manufacturing giants Nike have signed a 12-year deal with NBA and WNBA, which gives them the exclusive rights to manufacture jerseys and other licensed NBA/WNBA apparel till 2037. The contract extension comes on the eve of New York Liberty’s maiden WNBA victory, and just a day before the commencement of the 2024/25 NBA season.

Nike first became the NBA’s official kit supplier in 2015, following an exclusive eight-year deal. Before that, the NBA had a long-standing partnership with Adidas, which ended after the 2017-18 season. However, Nike’s relationship with basketball stretches much further back, having been an NBA partner since 1992 and a WNBA marketing partner since 1997. Over the years, Nike has become deeply woven into the fabric of how fans engage with and support the sport. Now, both the NBA and WNBA have chosen to extend their partnership with Nike until 2037, cementing the brand’s role in the sport's future. 

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, when announcing the deal, emphasized the importance of the collaboration, stating, “Nike is inextricably linked to basketball and has helped fuel the growth and innovation around our sport for decades. With an added focus on youth basketball, our expanded partnership will create even more opportunities for aspiring players to learn and compete at all levels and for fans of all ages to engage with the NBA and WNBA." The extended partnership brings exciting new elements, including a stronger focus on youth basketball development and increased investment in the WNBA. In addition, the deal includes a joint commitment to provide fans of both the NBA and Nike with unique products, exclusive content, and memorable experiences. 

Following the announcement, Nike’s President Elliott Hill said, “Nike has always been more than a league sponsor – we’re a strategic partner with an unwavering commitment to growing the game.... Our collective power, global reach and genuine love for the game will only continue to create new pathways and opportunities for players and fans.”  WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert also backed the new deal with Nike by saying, “Since our league's inception, Nike has committed to a shared vision for girls and women’s basketball. Our continued partnership is an opportunity to fortify avenues for development and enhance touchpoints across our dynamic fan base while globally showcasing the WNBA.”  

Besides being the kit provider for NBA and WNBA, Nike will also supply kits for the G-League. Moreover, Nike also extended its license agreement as an official partner of the NBA players union, the National Basketball Players Association.