As of writing, 13 of 13 top female athletes sponsored by Nike were pregnant. This is despite their new policy which protects them against any reductions in pay for the 18-months preceding and subsequent to their pregnancy. The Nike Collective was formed to ensure that both Serena Williams, WNBA superstar, and Ionescu are the two in question. A number of other factors are important for Nike's growth as a brand as well as the sport.
13 of Nike's top sponsored athletes are pregnant
Thirteen top-paid female Nike athletes are pregnant or have had children. For women who have dedicated their lives and careers to their sport, this trend of athletes becoming mothers is particularly troubling. Nike's policy about maternity leaves athletes feeling unsafe and unprotected. This is in addition to the lack of support athletes receive during pregnancy. Many have raised concerns about the issue and asked for punishments after giving birth.
Nike's new Pregnancy Policy protects them from any reductions in pay for 18-months of pregnancy
It is often said that women in sports including the Olympic teams are subject to pay cuts. Nike has taken steps to protect female athletes from these cuts. Nike executives addressed female athletes and stated that they had not properly accounted for the possibility of pregnancy in their sponsorship agreements. They also indicated that they have added pregnancy protection language into their contracts. Felix explains why Nike has made a change to its policy.
Allyson Felix
Allyson Felix was involved with Nike a few years back in a dispute over maternity rights. She claimed that Nike was tone deafening and disrespectful in its approach. Nike ultimately agreed to make changes. They also promised not to penalize Felix for poor performance postpartum. However, this is a terrible situation for all involved. Felix has signed a new contract for Athleta due to the new circumstances.
Alyssia Montano's Pregnancy
Alyssia Monteno is an Olympic-level pregnant athlete who has been the subject of headlines. Mexican-born Montano, who was pregnant with her first child, competed at the women's race in 2014. The company reduced her salary retroactively because of her pregnancy. According to her, she was under intense pressure from Nike as well as the U.S. Olympic Committee to get back to her best athletic form. After her first child, she left Nike and signed with Asics. She was able compete and compete again without having to take pay cuts. The company feared that if she did not return to her previous level, it could endanger her future sponsorships.
Allyson Felix reacts to the nike ad
Allyson Felix is currently in negotiations with Nike regarding her maternity protections. According to her, Nike approached her for a role in an ad on female empowerment and she didn't know she was pregnant. In December, her contract expired with the company. She was then asked to accept a 70% salary cut in order to remain with them. Nike denied her request for certain maternity protections. The ad sparked a wider debate about the rights of female athletes.