NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
What if the WNBA reached out to Nike and Reebok to get the huge boost they needed in terms of marketing? Aja Wilson represents Nike, while Angel Reese represents Reebok, and with their respective brands, they could make one hell of a commercial.
At the height of Michael Jordan’s career, there was no other shoe company on the level of Nike. However, nowadays, companies like Under Armour, Converse, Adidas, Puma, Nike, and Reebok dominate the market. But the women’s side of things, the first starring to catch, they just need a way to get more gasoline involved. Enter Reese and Wilson.
The market for such a collab is wide open. We had high-profile athletes star opposite each other in ads before, from Sprite to Coke to McDonald’s, but showcasing two different brands of female sneakers, well, that could be what brings more fans to the game.
The setting of the commercial could be on the court or off, like a classroom or a gym setting, where they are teaching a younger generation of female ballers with WNBA dreams.
Business-wise, think of what this could do for Nike and their female brand, and the impact on the new look of Reebok, led by Shaquille O’Neal and Allen Iverson.
There is no loser here. If the commercial is done right and with taste, the sky is the limit for other brands to take this approach. We know that every company seeks a bigger product demand, and while the competition has been fierce on the court, imagine how fans will view this collab. This is a positive for the WNBA.
The women’s game has grown over the years, well before Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark joined the WNBA. Olympic Basketball for women was always a top draw. The collegiate game is also top-notch, and the WNBA, despite the players and owners fighting for positions on a new agreement, the league is still thriving with new teams entering.
Yes, the money is not quite where it needs to be, but at one point, the NBA was suffering. Not just in terms of viewership and fans invested in the game, but also on the endorsement side of things. When Magic Johnson and Larry Bird entered, Converse was the big draw. But then Jordan entered, and Nike took off. Right on their heels were Reebok, once O’Neal and Iverson came into the league. This is the push the WNBA needs.
Looking at the data, Aja Wilson’s shoes are flying off the shelves; the same can be said for Angel Reese. But it’s bigger than basketball at this point. What Reese and Wilson represent, besides their respective brands, is the African American women/girls watching their every move while pushing the game to a never-before-seen status. Nike and Reebok. Aja Wilson and Angel Reese. 4 name, 4 brands, one common goal–to help push the WNBA to new heights.
