Count Coach as the latest player to team with the WNBA.
The fashion brand has signed on to become the official luxury handbag partner of the league. This multiyear collaboration will kick off on Draft Night on Monday at The Shed in New York City with the WNBA Draft Orange Carpet presented by Coach.
As part of this deal, Coach will highlight the stories of five draftees who are considered to be redefining the game and are leaders both on and off the court. They are Paige Bueckers (University of Connecticut), Hailey Van Lith (Texas Christian University), Aneesah Morrow (Louisiana State University), Kiki Iriafen (University of South California) and Sonia Citron (Notre Dame).
In addition, throughout the season the company will participate in key WNBA events such as the All-Star Game, and it will also serve as the presenting sponsor of WNBA Pride, a platform the league launched in 2014 that champions the LGBTQIA+ community.
“This partnership with the WNBA is more than just a venture into sports; it is a powerful alignment of brand missions,” said Todd Kahn, chief executive officer of Coach. “By investing in this collaboration, Coach is committed to supporting the transformative power of women’s professional sports and the influential role these athletes play in society. Together, we look forward to creating meaningful experiences that resonate deeply with fans and consumers alike.”
He added that the partnership is intended to “empower athletes and fans alike to express themselves in authentic ways. By supporting these remarkable athletes, we are reinforcing our commitment to inspire confidence in the pursuit of self-expression. To have the draft in our own backyard at The Shed at Hudson Yards, has the excitement of a home game and I am looking forward to the upcoming season.”
Colie Edison, WNBA’s chief growth officer, added: “WNBA players are at the forefront of expressing their own style and individuality and this new partnership inspires fans to do the same. We look forward to joining forces with Coach to inspire fans everywhere to embrace individuality, especially around some of our most anticipated tentpole moments, including the WNBA Draft Orange Carpet and WNBA Pride presented by Coach.”
“Coach and the WNBA share a belief in the power of self-expression,” said Coach’s chief marketing officer Joon Silverstein. “We’re excited to partner with this league, an organization that uniquely champions individuality, and to support these courageous athletes who are breaking molds both on and off the court, inspiring our audiences to embrace the many possibilities of who they are and who they can be.”
Several fashion brands including Skims and Sephora have signed WNBA players as ambassadors, and luxury brands such as Prada, Louis Vuitton and Gucci have dressed the players in the past for their red-carpet events.