Why the Skims-WNBA Partnership is Such a Slam Dunk for Women’s Sports

Graphic Source: SKIMS

Kim Kardashian refuses to fall the ball. On May 13, the mogul’s shapewear company Skims, announced its official underwear partnership with the WNBA. The firm launched the campaign with some of the league’s major stars, including basketball legend Candace Parker, next overall draft choose Cameron Brink, and standout gamers like Kelsey Plum, DiJonai Carrington, and Skylar Diggins-Smith. “I am happy to launch this new WNBA campaign starring these kinds of an remarkable cast of athletes,” Kardashian claimed in a push launch. “Championing women of all ages and girls in sports activities is amazingly important to Skims.”

This partnership will come soon after a file-breaking 12 months for women’s sports (and women’s basketball specially), with NCAA players shattering all-time viewership data by tens of millions. As the attractiveness of women’s basketball continues to increase, so has its ties to style. In April, Chicago Sky participant Angel Reese introduced her ideas to enter the WNBA draft — skipping her remaining 12 months of college or university to do so — in Vogue a thirty day period later on, Reese attended the Satisfied Gala in a custom 16Arlington costume. In the meantime, 1st over-all draft decide on Caitlin Clark attended the WNBA draft in head-to-toe Prada, the to start with skilled basketball player to be dressed by the style home for the draft. Offered that Skims has now partnered with the NBA, moving into women’s sports activities appears to be like the normal next stage (and frankly, extensive overdue).

Some of the WNBA styles also mentioned their love of fashion in the Skims release. “My lovers know how considerably I enjoy trend. Skims has been an underwear staple in my wardrobe for several years,” Brink explained, sporting the brand’s Matches Most people underwear collection. Diggins-Smith additional that, “I really like style, but much more importantly it really is important for me to experience at ease in every single aspect of my lifestyle. As a mom of two with a very energetic vocation, Skims offers options for me that are seamless, stretchy and attractive.”

The Skims x WNBA partnership is a big moment for women’s sports activities, particularly as gamers continue to advocate for the spend fairness and air time they should have. “I am youthful sufficient to keep in mind when I was told style [brands] were not gonna assistance us,” previous qualified basketball player Swin Dollars Canal commented on the Skims Instagram put up. “This is so impactful as a person who is female presenting and plays basketball . . . thank you for this,” yet another commenter added.

With the idea-off of the WNBA period upon us, this campaign indicates that women’s sports activities is not heading anywhere — and that is undoubtedly a successful message.

Chandler Plante is an assistant editor for POPSUGAR Well being & Fitness. Previously, she worked as an editorial assistant for Men and women journal and contributed to Ladygunn, Millie, and Bustle Digital Team. In her absolutely free time, she overshares on the online, producing written content about continual disease, elegance, and incapacity.