Bad Bunny, Lionel Messi Team Up on New Adidas Collaboration
Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi has teamed up with fellow Adidas ambassador Bad Bunny on a new collection for the brand. Arriving on Saturday is the Leo Messi x Bad Bunny x Adidas sneaker collection, featuring the Gazelle Indoor and the F50 soccer cleat. In addition to a gold colorway commemorating the trophies Messi has won throughout his decades-long career, both Messi and Bad Bunny’s signatures are stamped on the Three Stripes branding, along with Messi’s jersey number (No. 10) referenced as an “X” on the heel and additional co-branding on the tongue. Pricing ranges from $180 to $300.
Nike Extends Extends Partnership with NBA, WNBA
Nike is extending its long-term partnership with both the NBA and WNBA for another 12 years, the company exclusively revealed to Boardroom on Monday. The leading global sportswear company will continue to provide uniforms for all 30 NBA franchises, all upcoming 15 WNBA teams, and the NBA G League franchises as well. Nike originally became the official outfitter of each league in 2017 with an initial eight-year agreement. Nike will also partner with each league across multiple platforms globally, with the renewal including a focus on “merchandising, marketing, and content.”
For more on the new deal, check out Nick DePaula’s full story on Boardroom.
WNBPA Officially Opts out of Collective Bargaining Agreement Ahead of Deadline
The WNBA Players Association has opted out of the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, it announced Monday. The union and the league had until Nov. 1 to withdraw from the current deal, which was first agreed upon ahead of the 2020 season and is set to expire in 2027. The decision arrives following a record season for the W in both viewership and attendance. “This is a defining moment, not just for the WNBA, but for all of us who believe in progress,” WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike of the Seattle Storm said in a statement. “The world has evolved since 2020, and we cannot afford to stand still. If we stay in the current agreement, we fall behind.”
Disney Taps James Gorman as Chairman of the Board, Effective Next Year
The Walt Disney Co. confirmed Monday that former Morgan Stanley CEO James Gorman has been appointed as its next chairman, entering the role on Jan. 2, 2025. Gorman will succeed Mark Parker, who is leaving after serving on Disney’s board for nine years. The entertainment giant also announced that it expects to name its new CEO in early 2026, with Gorman saying that the timing would “allow ample time for successful transition” before the conclusion of current exec Bob Iger’s contract in 2026. Iger initially stepped down from Disney at the end of 2021 but returned in November 2022 after business plummeted.
TNT Sports & Uninterrupted Partner on New Show Hosted By Jemele Hill
Longtime sports personality Jemele Hill is the face of a new weekly show for TNT Sports and Uninterrupted called Above The Fold. The new program will “delve into important stories and topics centered on the connection between sports and culture,” according to an official release. With its title being a reference to the most pressing stories to be featured in a daily newspaper, Hill explained the program serves as a “love letter to the profession that changed my life.” The show premieres on Oct. 22 at 5 p.m. ET on truTV.
Jalen Brunson Joins BODYARMOR as Newest Brand Ambassador
As the NBA season prepares to tip off this week, BODYARMOR announced Monday that Jalen Brunson is its newest brand ambassador. “Just like my journey, where success is built on genuine effort and dedication, this collaboration is rooted in authenticity and real impact,” said the New York Knicks point guard about the multi-year deal. Other pro basketball players on the BODYARMOR roster include Donovan Mitchell, Trae Young, and newly crowned WNBA champ Sabrina Ionescu. The new-look Knicks open the 2024-25 season on the road on Tuesday against the reigning Finals champions, the Boston Celtics.
Liberty-Lynx Series Sets New Record for Average WNBA Finals Attendance
The New York Liberty won its first-ever WNBA championship in dramatic fashion in overtime against the Minnesota Lynx Sunday night. The final game of the 2024 season drew another massive in-person crowd, a fitting conclusion to a season that continuously broke attendance records. Barclays Center recorded a sellout audience of 18,090, which helped the five-game series set both the overall attendance record for a WNBA Finals as well as the average attendance mark (18,518 per game). Following the Liberty’s 67-62 win, the team announced plans for two victory parades – one in Brooklyn and another in Manhattan.
Angel Reese Adds Cash App to Growing Portfolio
In her recent Wall Street Journal interview, Angel Reese said, “When I sleep at night, I want to be able to make money still.” Now, her newest partnership will help her manage her money and teach others to do so as well. The Bayou Barbie and Cash App have linked up on a new effort to empower her fans and community. The partnership includes giveaways, financial literacy projects, and continued support for women’s sports at large. Cash App will also sponsor Reese’s Unapologetically Angel podcast and work alongside her charitable foundation to renovate a public basketball court in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The unveiling will be celebrated with a Cash App Block Party open to the public in December.
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