Nike becomes official ball supplier to WSL & Women’s Championship

Nike has become the official ball supplier for the WSL in a new multi-year partnership that will begin as of the upcoming 2022/23 season.

As part of the deal between the sports giant and the FA, Nike balls will also be used in all Women’s Championship and Continental Cup games as well.

The Nike Flight will be used and each competition will have its own individually branded ball.

The FA’s relationship with Mitre had seen Mitre balls used in the WSL and other women’s competitions since 2018. Mitre will continue to be the ball supplier for the FA Cup.

Nike balls had been used in the WSL prior to 2018 as a result of a relationship with the FA that stretches back to 2013 and the return signifies the league’s growing commercial power.

“I’m delighted that we are able to expand our relationship with Nike and have one of the most recognised sports brands in the world partnered with the Barclays Women’s Super League, Barclays Women’s Championship and the FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup,” said Navin Singh, FA commercial director.

 “Nike continuously push the boundaries when it comes to investment in women and giving them the opportunity to succeed, which is exactly what we strive to do in the women’s game. This is a really positive step for both parties, and I look forward to us working with Nike going forward.”

As well as now having Nike on board as ball supplier, the WSL and Women’s Championship have a successful commercial and naming rights deal with Barclays, while domestic broadcast rights were sold to Sky Sports and the BBC for the first time last year.

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