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. Two of these athletes are Serena Williams (tennis legend) and Sabrina Ionescu (WNBA star). The Nike Collective was established to ensure that women athletes were involved in company decisions. A number of other factors are important for Nike's growth as a brand as well as the sport.
13 of the top Nike sponsored athletes are currently pregnant
Thirteen top-paid female Nike athletes are pregnant or have had children. For women who have dedicated their careers to their sport, the worrying trend of athletes becoming parents is even more concerning. The lack of support for athletes in pregnancy is especially problematic, and Nike's policy on maternity leaves athletes feeling unprotected. Many of these women have spoken out against the problem and requested protection from punishment after childbirth.
Nike's new policy regarding pregnancy protects them against pay cuts for 18 months.
Pay cuts are often criticized for women in sport, including the Olympic team. But Nike has now taken the initiative to protect female athletes from these cuts. In a letter to female athletes, Nike executives said that they had not adequately accounted for pregnancy in their sponsorship agreements, but that they had since added pregnancy protection language to the 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 Nike's attitude was rude and tone deaf. Ultimately, Nike agreed to make changes, including not penalizing Felix for poor performance during pregnancy or postpartum. This is unfortunate for all. Felix has now signed a new contract at Athleta, in light of the current situation.
Alyssia Montano's pregnancy
Alyssia Montano has made headlines as a pregnant Olympic athlete. Mexican-born, Montano competed as a women's athlete in the marathon in 2014 and 2017, while she was pregnant. Her pregnancy was a big deal for her, and the company cut her pay retroactively. She claimed that she was being pressured by Nike and the U.S. Olympic Committee for her to quickly return to her athletic form. After her first pregnancy, she quit Nike and signed for Asics. There, she could continue to compete and receive no pay cuts. She was afraid that she would not be able to return to her former level and it could threaten her future sponsorships.
Allyson Felix reacts at nike's advertisement
Allyson Felix has been in negotiations with Nike for her maternity coverages. She says that when Nike asked her to appear in an ad about female empowerment, she was unaware that 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 protections during pregnancy, including the right to choose a physician. The ad has caused a larger debate on the rights of female athletes.