AT&T® has become the first non-apparel company to be featured on WNBA jerseys all through the league. The Women’s National Basketball Association recently announced their multiyear marquee partnership with the telecom giant, and said that their logo will be featured at the front of all 12 team jerseys.
As per the deal, AT&T® — which is seen as both the best internet provider and a solid competitor to companies bringing the cheapest cable packages to consumers – will be integrated into the association’s official website and mobile app, as well as its social media channels. Their partnership will also see AT&T® collaborate with ESPN and NBA TV, who are the broadcast partners of WNBA. The telco will also be WNBA All-Star’s title partner and have its logo placed on the court as well.
“The WNBA is deeply committed to empowering and inspiring women,” said Kerry Tatlock, SVP for Marketing Partnerships. “AT&T’s groundbreaking commitment to our game, which is anchored on our shared values of diversity and inclusion, make it the perfect partner for the WNBA at this exciting time.”
Reports say that AT&T® and WNBA will also be working on programming in order to support women in different sports. This partnership works well for both parties; while WNBA celebrates the power and optimism of women, AT&T® proactively involves itself in supporting diversity. In fact, this was one of the country’s first ever women’s employee resource groups that started AT&T® around four decades ago. The telco even met their goal to eradicate gender bias from advertising and content, in cooperation with the #SeeHer movement by the Association of National Advertisers.
The chief brand officer for AT&T® Communications, Fiona Carter, said, “Together, we can create ways for basketball fans and for AT&T® customers to engage in the causes and communities important to the WNBA and to AT&T®. Whether it’s women in sports, supporting small businesses like those owned by WNBA players, being a leading voice in LGBTQ rights, or giving back to communities in which we operate, we have much in common and many opportunities to empower these incredible athletes and their fans.”
The NBA All-Star 2019 kicked off the partnership with AT&T® after the telecom giant was chosen as the title partner of Slam Dunk as well as the presentation partner of NBA All-Star Practice and Media Day. They are also collaborating with the NBA 2K League as of now. The WNBA season will start on May 24, 2019, featuring the Washington Mystics, New York Liberty, Los Angeles Sparks, Las Vegas Aces, Chicago Sky, Minnesota Lynx, Dallas Wings, Atlanta Dream, Phoenix Mercury, Connecticut Sun, Indiana Fever, and Seattle Storm.