Napheesa Collier Signs With Jordan Brand After ‘Meaningful' MJ Pitch
Napheesa Collier has swapped Nike properties, trading in the Swoosh for the Jumpman.
The Minnesota Lynx star has signed a multiyear deal with Nike subsidiary Jordan Brand—the apparel company inspired by NBA legend Michael Jordan. Collier, a four-time WNBA All-Star, had been with Nike for the last five years, regularly playing in player-exclusive Nike Kobes and KDs.
Advertisement
More from Sportico.com
But it was time for a change, she said, citing the investment Jordan Brand is making into the women's game. Jumpman branding, for example, has appeared on game uniforms for the last two WNBA All-Star Games as part of Nike's partnership with the WNBA.
'Jordan has [its] own identity, [its] own athletes and does things a different way,' Collier said in a video interview. 'There's a big separation.'
In February, the Jumpman himself made an in-person recruiting pitch to Collier while she was in Miami for Unrivaled's inaugural season. Collier said the Hall-of-Famer highlighted UConn and Lynx legend Maya Moore, the first woman basketball player to sign with the company, and the apparel giant's potential to elevate her personal brand.
Advertisement
Jordan made a point to say that his company would continue to support her regardless of her sneaker decision. It was a conversation she described as far more about the brand's ethos than money or merchandise allotment.
'It's his brand but he doesn't need to be on the ground doing these things,' she said. 'So, for him to come to the meeting and do that was really meaningful. It was awesome.'
The Jordan Brand business has become a top performer for Nike, surpassing $7 billion in revenue for fiscal year 2024.
Collier is switching to Jordan Brand as women's basketball is experiencing unprecedented growth in viewership and cultural influence. The 28-year-old has put together a decorated career since being drafted in 2019, leading the Lynx to the WNBA Finals last season. But the WNBPA executive committee vice president and co-founder of new 3-on-3 league Unrivaled has also been one of the league's most important voices off the court as a catalyst pushing for increased player wages amid collective bargaining agreement negotiations.
Advertisement
Collier, who officially signed with Jordan Brand last month, spoke with Jordan again after turning down the other shoe brands that had expressed interest during her sneaker free-agency period.
Collier said she's happy to finally be on the same team as Moore, who officially retired in 2023. The Missouri native joins the Jordan Brand women's roster of 12 WNBA players that includes Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard and Las Vegas Aces guard Dana Evans. Collier's move coincides with Phoenix Mercury forward Satou Sabally leaving Jordan Brand for Adidas.
'This is a partnership that I want to have for the rest of my career,' Collier said.
Stars across the WNBA are dropping signature shoes; this month, Aces star A'Ja Wilson released her own sneaker, the A'One, which sold out in minutes. The three-time MVP is the 13th WNBA player to have a signature shoe.
Advertisement
When asked if Collier could be the next, she hinted that she and Jordan Brand may have something in the works. 'You'll have to stay tuned,' she said.
Best of Sportico.com
Sign up for Sportico's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Connecticut faces Golden State on 5-game slide
Connecticut Sun (2-11, 2-6 Eastern Conference) at Golden State Valkyries (6-6, 4-4 Western Conference) San Francisco; Sunday, 8:30 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: Connecticut Sun heads into the matchup with Golden State Valkyries as losers of five in a row. Advertisement The Valkyries have gone 4-2 in home games. Golden State has a 2-3 record in games decided by 10 points or more. The Sun are 1-5 in road games. Connecticut is sixth in the Eastern Conference allowing 87.6 points while holding opponents to 46.5% shooting. Golden State averages 78.3 points per game, 9.3 fewer points than the 87.6 Connecticut allows. Connecticut averages 6.1 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.8 fewer made shots on average than the 8.9 per game Golden State gives up. The teams meet Sunday for the first time this season. TOP PERFORMERS: Veronica Burton is averaging 11.2 points, 5.2 assists and 1.6 steals for the Valkyries. Kayla Thornton is averaging 15.3 points over the last 10 games. Advertisement Tina Charles is averaging 16.6 points and 5.3 rebounds for the Sun. Marina Mabrey is averaging 15.8 points over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Valkyries: 5-5, averaging 79.7 points, 36.0 rebounds, 18.8 assists, 8.5 steals and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 41.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 79.8 points per game. Sun: 2-8, averaging 72.5 points, 28.6 rebounds, 16.7 assists, 7.9 steals and 3.1 blocks per game while shooting 40.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 88.6 points. INJURIES: Valkyries: None listed. Sun: None listed. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
New York visits Seattle following Stewart's 35-point game
New York Liberty (10-2, 7-1 Eastern Conference) at Seattle Storm (8-5, 8-4 Western Conference) Seattle; Sunday, 7 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: New York Liberty plays the Seattle Storm after Breanna Stewart scored 35 points in the Liberty's 89-81 loss to the Phoenix Mercury. Advertisement The Storm are 4-2 on their home court. Seattle ranks second in the WNBA with 22.5 assists per game. Skylar Diggins leads the Storm averaging 6.2. The Liberty are 4-1 in road games. New York is the Eastern leader with 28.6 defensive rebounds per game led by Jonquel Jones averaging 7.7. Seattle's average of 7.8 made 3-pointers per game is 1.1 fewer made shots on average than the 8.9 per game New York gives up. New York averages 10.7 more points per game (89.1) than Seattle allows (78.4). The matchup Sunday is the first meeting this season for the two teams. TOP PERFORMERS: Nneka Ogwumike is averaging 17.2 points and 8.5 rebounds for the Storm. Diggins is averaging 17.2 points over the last 10 games. Advertisement Stewart is averaging 21.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists for the Liberty. Sabrina Ionescu is averaging 22.1 points and 4.0 rebounds while shooting 44.1% over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Storm: 6-4, averaging 86.0 points, 31.3 rebounds, 23.1 assists, 7.9 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 49.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 79.7 points per game. Liberty: 8-2, averaging 87.8 points, 35.3 rebounds, 21.1 assists, 9.4 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 45.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 76.3 points. INJURIES: Storm: Katie Lou Samuelson: out for season (knee). Liberty: None listed. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Dallas visits Washington following Austin's 28-point game
Dallas Wings (3-11, 1-8 Western Conference) at Washington Mystics (5-8, 5-5 Eastern Conference) Washington; Sunday, 3 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: Washington Mystics faces the Dallas Wings after Shakira Austin scored 28 points in the Washington Mystics' 92-91 loss to the Atlanta Dream. Advertisement The Mystics are 3-3 in home games. Washington is second in the Eastern Conference with 38.2 points per game in the paint led by Kiki Iriafen averaging 8.2. The Wings have gone 2-6 away from home. Dallas is seventh in the Western Conference with 24.4 defensive rebounds per game led by Myisha Hines-Allen averaging 4.5. Washington's average of 5.5 made 3-pointers per game is 3.6 fewer made shots on average than the 9.1 per game Dallas allows. Dallas has shot at a 41.7% rate from the field this season, 0.2 percentage points greater than the 41.5% shooting opponents of Washington have averaged. The Mystics and Wings match up Sunday for the first time this season. Advertisement TOP PERFORMERS: Brittney Sykes is averaging 20.6 points and 4.8 assists for the Mystics. Sonia Citron is averaging 13.3 points over the last 10 games. Arike Ogunbowale is averaging 16.1 points, 4.2 assists and 1.5 steals for the Wings. DiJonai Carrington is averaging 13.0 points over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Mystics: 3-7, averaging 76.4 points, 36.8 rebounds, 18.1 assists, 6.2 steals and 2.8 blocks per game while shooting 42.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 79.6 points per game. Wings: 3-7, averaging 83.5 points, 36.7 rebounds, 20.6 assists, 7.6 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 42.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 87.0 points. Advertisement INJURIES: Mystics: Georgia Amoore: out for season (acl). Wings: Maddy Siegrist: out (knee), Tyasha Harris: out for season (knee). ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
