US sports giant Nike announces a multi-year partnership with the Football Association of England (The FA), becoming official ball supplier to the Barclays Women’s Super League (BWSL), Barclays Women’s Championship (BWC) and The FA Women’s Continental Tires League Cup.
Supporting top-flight football is vital for Nike, the company said in a press release, to inspire current and future generations of women and girls and give them the opportunity to take part in the sport. Whitney Malkiel, Vice President, Global Women’s at Nike: “The energy in women’s football in England has never been greater and we are entering into this partnership with the Football Association of England (FA) at such an important time in our long-standing effort to we support the growth of women’s football.”
Nike has been working with the English Football Association FA since 2013, and this new partnership aims to expand the joint work. As part of this partnership, Nike Flight ball technology will be introduced for the first time in the BWSL, BWC and Continental Tires League Cup. The technology uses 3D printed structures on the surface of the ball to allow air to move more easily around it. That means less wobble in the air and a more stable, predictable trajectory.