NEW BALANCE AND THE WNBA ANNOUNCE MULTIYEAR PARTNERSHIP

Boston, MA and New York, NY – July 16, 2024 – New Balance and the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) today announced a multiyear agreement aimed at elevating women’s sports and inspiring the next generation of fans and athletes alike.

This new relationship with the WNBA will enable New Balance to expand its presence in basketball, alongside an organization renowned for advocating for women’s sports. The deal tips off midway through the season, just ahead of WNBA All-Star 2024, coinciding with the arrival of one of the most exciting draft classes, which will help in further amplifying women’s basketball like never before.

The partnership will establish New Balance as an official partner of the WNBA. Together, both brands will continue to push the boundaries of sport and transform the game through grassroots initiatives aimed at growing youth basketball and authentic community engagement.

As part of the deal, New Balance will create authentic broadcast, digital and retail content featuring New Balance athlete and WNBA rookie Cameron Brink. Cameron, the second-overall selection in the WNBA Draft 2024 presented by State Farm, signed an NIL deal with New Balance in 2023. The partnership enables Cameron to continue empowering young athletes to fearlessly overcome obstacles and pursue their dreams, both in basketball and in life.

“This relationship with the WNBA is another example of New Balance encouraging all young athletes, particularly women and girls, to pursue their athletic goals and ignite a new era of female empowerment through sport,” says Jess Vassall, New Balance Head of Global Partnerships.

“The partnership with New Balance is yet another positive step in our efforts to grow women’s sports across new audiences, incentivize youth participation and positively influence communities,” said Chief Growth Officer Colie Edison.  “By aligning ourselves with a global brand like New Balance, we continue to push the envelope of what’s possible when we tap into the unifying power of sport.”

NEW BALANCE AND SHOHEI OHTANI ANNOUNCE THE SUPERSTAR’S FIRST SIGNATURE COLLECTION

Boston, MA – June 20, 2024 – Today, New Balance, together with two-time American League MVP Shohei Ohtani, officially announce the international sensation’s first signature collection with the brand. The Shohei Ohtani Signature Collection expresses his dominant dual talents at the plate and on the mound, featuring on-field performance styles, off-field sports style essentials and his first signature cleat, with an official launch date of July 15. Consumers in Fort Worth, Texas can exclusively shop the collection 24 hours in advance of the retail launch at the New Balance MLB All-Star Weekend pop-up event.

The collection showcases Shohei’s logo, a sketch of him rounding first base, as announced by New Balance in March. His love of the game shines most evidently in his base running ability, and the logo represents his athleticism and unique talents as a hitter and pitcher, making a significant moment in an already historic career.

The pieces draw inspiration directly from the game itself. The classic neutral tones mixed with Marsh Green are reminiscent of the infield dirt, pitcher’s mound and outfield, blending tradition with modern minimalism on the woven jacket, woven pants and cotton tees. The overlocking stitch lines on the French Terry pieces mimic the stitching on a baseball. Many items feature double pockets, a nod to the duality of Shohei’s unique talent as a two-way player.

Shohei is a master craftsman who sweats every detail. Each design was carefully crafted to replicate the comfort and movement needed for the rigors of pitching and batting, specifically for the athlete who believes that every detail matters.

“I have a deep respect for the heritage of baseball and the sport itself, and I love that the collection pays tribute to the traditional old-school style while bringing a new-school twist. Every item can fit an athlete’s wardrobe on and off the field and collaborating with New Balance to capture that perfect balance was such an exciting moment for me,” says Shohei.

The launch of the Ohtani 1 is where versatility meets high performance. With insight from Shohei and created for the unique needs of the two-way player, the cleat was designed to sit closer to the ground. Comfort and durability are covered through the integration of FuelCell foam with a raised triangle pattern along the toe box reminiscent of the ceilings in some NPB ballparks in Japan. A premium PU upper adds superior durability for consistency throughout the long season without compromising flex. The Ohtani 1 launches in two classic colors, white with gold and black with gold, and will be available in metal cleat and turf styles.

“In designing Shohei’s spike, we knew every detail mattered,” says Matt Nuzzo, Senior Product Manager for Field of Play at New Balance. “Comfort, durability and ground feel were the most important to him, so there are no contours or recesses on the plate to maintain a flat surface underfoot to help prevent mud from caking and to allow the studs to interact with the ground. The studs themselves are approximately 2mm lower to the ground compared to traditional spikes, as this concept of ground feel and using the ground as leverage is something well understood in Japanese baseball but less so in other parts of the baseball world where thick, cushioned midsoles act to help alleviate the stud pressure underfoot.”

Additional on-field performance drops for the collection are expected this Winter. For more information, visit www.newbalance.com/baseball.

MARVIN HARRISON JR. SIGNS WITH NEW BALANCE AHEAD OF NFL DRAFT

Boston, MA – April 23, 2024 – Today, two-time unanimous All-American, 2023 Fred Biletnikoff Award winner and the top wide receiver in the 2024 NFL Draft, Marvin Harrison Jr. officially signs with the New Balance brand family. New Balance and Marvin plan to reveal the brands first American Football cleats exclusively at the draft.

Marvin, a Philadelphia native, was one of the most talked-about athletes last year before being eligible for the draft and has proven himself as one of the most talented and hard-working wide receivers in the 2024 draft class. The standout wide receiver from The Ohio State University ended the 2023 season with 14 touchdowns, 67 receptions and 1,211 yards, an impressive resume to stand on as he steps into his professional career. Marvin will work closely with the New Balance design team to evolve the brand’s performance cleats as well as appear in brand campaigns across performance and lifestyle.

“Family is very important to me and joining a family brand like New Balance felt like I was building a relationship that centers on trust and shared values,” says Marvin. “Being able to work closely with the design and product creation team so quickly and helping them launch the new cleats is just icing on the cake. I am excited to do the work and build something that will inspire the next generation and help me excel as I enter my professional football career.”

As the newest member of the New Balance family, Marvin will play an integral role in the evolution of the brand’s inaugural American Football cleat collection. As New Balance launches its first products in American Football, Marvin will help the brand reach young players and change the perception that players must sacrifice fit and feel when it comes to cleats; comfort and performance can live together in high-performance cleats.

“From the first conversation with Marvin it was clear that he was a perfect fit for us at New Balance, his drive, passion and incredible work ethic speak to the person that he is on and off the field,” says Naveen Lokesh New Balance Head of Global Sports Marketing for American Football and Basketball. “His dedication to everything he does will help us launch New Balance into the American Football category and push the boundaries of what athletes can do to inspire the next generation. We are excited to start this journey together and co-author our legacy in sport culture.”

American football is known for power and force, however New Balance is approaching it differently and leaning into the intelligence needed to be successful long term in the league. Over the last few years the New Balance design team has focused on Football IQ, the player that knows the playbook by heart and stays up late watching tape and learning how to make a difference the next game. From the New Balance Sports Research Lab to the extensive high school, college and professional athlete testing, New Balance is looking to change the game, allowing players to wear comfortable cleats so they can focus on dominating on the field.  

NEW BALANCE ATHLETE KAWHI LEONARD UNVEILS THE LATEST: KAWHI IV