13 of the top 13 female athletes sponsored and paid by Nike are currently pregnant. This is despite the policy that protects them from any pay cuts in the 18 months prior to and after 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. For the success of Nike as a brand, and for the growth in sport overall, it is important to have female athletes participate in company discussions.
13 of Nike's most prominent sponsored athletes are now pregnant
Thirteen of Nike’s top sponsored female athletes are currently pregnant or have given birth. This trend of athletes becoming pregnant is especially troubling for women who have devoted their lives to their sport. The lack of support for athletes in pregnancy is especially problematic, and Nike's policy on maternity leaves athletes feeling unprotected. Many of them spoke out and demanded protection against punishment after childbirth.
Nike's new policy regarding pregnancy protects them against pay cuts for 18 months.
The pay cuts that women receive in sports (including the Olympic team) are often blamed. Nike took the initiative to protect female sports stars from these cuts. Nike executives sent a letter to female athletes stating that they did not account for pregnancy in the sponsorship agreements. However they have since added protection language regarding pregnancy to the contracts. Felix explains why Nike changed 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. Ultimately, Nike agreed to make changes, including not penalizing Felix for poor performance during pregnancy or postpartum. The situation is not ideal for everyone. Felix has now signed a new contract at Athleta, in light of the current situation.
Alyssia's pregnancy
Alyssia Monteno, a pregnant Olympic runner, has been the talk of the town. The Mexican-born athlete competed in the women's marathon in 2014 and 2017, when she was pregnant with her first child. Her pregnancy was a big deal for her, and the company cut her pay retroactively. She said she was under pressure from Nike and the U.S. Olympic Committee to return to her full athletic form quickly. After her first pregnancy, she quit Nike and signed for Asics. There, she could continue to compete and receive no pay cuts. The company feared that she wouldn't return at the same level as her previous sponsorships.
Allyson Felix reacts at nike's advertisement
Allyson Felix has been in negotiations with Nike for her maternity coverages. 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 requests for certain maternity protections. The ad has caused a larger debate on the rights of female athletes.