- Skechers has signed a multiyear deal with the WNBA to become an Official Partner of the league, with ambassadors Jackie Young, Rickea Jackson, and Kiki Iriafen leading the campaign.
- Rickea Jackson became the first athlete to play in Skechers basketball footwear in the WNBA back in 2024, making her the trailblazer for this now league-wide partnership.
- Skechers has been aggressively building its basketball program, with Joel Embiid as the face of the NBA side and the three WNBA stars anchoring the women's game.
- The deal lands as the WNBA tips off its historic 30th season in 2026, backed by a new Collective Bargaining Agreement signed in March 2026.
Skechers is officially in the WNBA building. The global footwear brand announced a multiyear deal on May 6, 2026, making it an Official Partner of the league just ahead of its 30th season milestone, with ambassadors Jackie Young, Rickea Jackson, and Kiki Iriafen set to front the campaign on court.
Jackson was the first WNBA athlete to play in Skechers basketball footwear in 2024. The Chicago Sky forward, who was recently featured in a Thorne wellness campaign at SXSW 2026 and also holds a deal with HeyDude Shoes, has been central to Skechers’ women’s basketball push from the jump.
Jackson was traded from the LA Sparks to the Chicago Sky in April 2026, adding a fresh chapter to her rising profile.
Young, a three-time WNBA champion with the Las Vegas Aces who set a Finals record by scoring 21 of her 32 points in a single quarter during the 2025 postseason, signed with Skechers in 2025.
Iriafen, a Washington Mystics forward, said Skechers signed her ahead of the draft, calling them a brand that “truly prioritizes the needs of female athletes.”
Skechers’ WNBA move builds on its broader basketball empire. The brand previously signed NBA stars Julius Randle and Terance Mann before making Joel Embiid the face of its basketball division. On the lifestyle side, Skechers has also worked with cultural figures like Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart.
The WNBA campaign signals a clear push into women’s sports. Much like Lexie Hull’s recent move fronting Teleties’ hair accessories campaign reflects the growing demand for WNBA players in brand activations, this Skechers play proves the appetite is only growing.
Takeaways
This deal is bigger than just sneakers on a court. Skechers isn’t dabbling in women’s basketball, it’s making a structural commitment, signing three distinct player profiles (a decorated champion, a high-profile trade acquisition, and a promising rookie), and locking in at the league level simultaneously.
That’s a calculated move that mirrors how Nike and Adidas have historically embedded themselves in sports. The WNBA’s 30th season, combined with its new CBA, makes 2026 the most commercially attractive entry point the league has ever offered, and Skechers clearly sees it.
Could Skechers eventually challenge Nike and Adidas as a top footwear brand in women’s basketball or is this more of a long-term brand awareness play? Will other emerging footwear brands follow Skechers’ playbook and use the WNBA as their gateway into competitive basketball marketing?
