Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) expansion franchise the Golden State Valkyries have unveiled financial services giant JPMorgan Chase as their first founding partner.
Contract:
- Multi-year deal includes Chase Freedom serving as the team’s shield uniform partner
- Logo to feature on Valkyries’ home and away jerseys
- JPMorgan Chase will offer an ‘exclusive inaugural season gift’ to fans who purchase 2025 season tickets with a Chase debit or credit card
- Firm to provide exclusive offers ‘to enhance the fan experience’ for Chase cardholders
- Valkyries and JPMorgan Chase will collaborate on Bay Area community initiatives covering financial health, equity in the workplace, career growth, and women-owned small businesses
Context:
The Valkyries, which are owned by the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) Golden State Warriors, landed a WNBA spot last October and will reportedly pay a record US$50 million expansion fee. Since then, the franchise has exceeded 15,000 season ticket deposits ahead of its debut season, setting a new record for a US women’s sports team.
Chase has been a long-term partner of the Warriors, signing a deal in 2016 for naming rights to the team’s home area. The contract has been valued at US$15 million per year until 2039. The Valkyries will also play at Chase Center.
Comment:
“We are building the Valkyries with the intention of creating legacy on and off the court,” said Valkyries president Jess Smith. “JPMorgan Chase has had alignment with us every step of the way in building a powerful, state-of-the-art franchise that inspires fandom, drives impact, and will compete for championships.
“This partnership enhances each of our goals with their expertise, care, and tenacity for driving culture through sport. In addition to being our inaugural shield uniform partner, which will be represented on our players and fans, we look forward to driving impact through financial literacy programming alongside a focus on women-owned small businesses.”
Carla Hassan, JPMorgan Chase chief marketing officer, added: “JPMorgan Chase has been a longstanding supporter of female athletes and we are thrilled to partner with the Valkyries to help build a world-class organisation that is going to push the game for athletes and fans.
“We could not have scripted a better partnership, one that reinforces our commitment to advance and economically empower the Bay Area, expands on our work to drive financial literacy in the region, and helps us more deeply engage with our customers.”
Coming next:
The Valkyries will begin play in the WNBA in 2025.
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Source: sportspromedia.com
