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The 50th anniversary of Title IX is approaching and adidas announced a wide-sweeping, equitable, and inclusive Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) network that will be open to every eligible student-athlete at an adidas-partnered D1 University per an adidas press release.
adidas states that the new NIL program will give over 50,000 student-athletes across 23 sports and 109 schools to become paid affiliate brand ambassadors and will be launched in 4 phases over the next 12 months, scaling across all schools by April 2023, beginning with HBCUs and Power 5 schools in Fall 2022.
“adidas’ NIL network is an incredible step forward for the growth of women’s sports,” says Candace Parker, Chicago Sky All-Star and adidas athlete. “It will have an impact on the future of college athletics and hopefully create a more equal, sustainable landscape where athletes feel supported and invested in as they grow in their college careers. It builds upon adidas’ and my shared ambition to empower the next generation of women in life and sport.”
With March Madness in full swing, adidas-partnered schools in the men’s and women’s tournaments will sport a “More Is Possible” t-shirts featuring language directly from Title IX. “Open to all eligible student-athletes regardless of their gender, the adidas NIL network embodies our belief that sport has the power to change lives by upskilling athletes and giving them the ability to begin to experience an entrepreneurial path that will carry them beyond their college years,” said Jim Murphy, adidas NCAA Program Lead. “This is not just a first-of-its-kind program for the brand and industry, it goes much wider by unlocking opportunities in business and life that will enable them as student-athletes to maximize their NIL, opening the doors to future possibilities.”
The “More Is Possible” shirts will be available on March 23rd on adidas.com/us/college, Fanatics, and college bookstores for $25. Check out the shirts below.
