As of this writing, 13 of the 13 top female athletes sponsored in part by Nike are pregnant. However, the new policy protects them from reductions in their pay during the 18 month preceding and immediately following the pregnancy. These two women are Serena Williams, WNBA star Sabrina Ionescu and tennis legend Serena Williams. The Nike Collective was created to ensure that female athletes were included in the company's decisions. Moreover, having female athletes in the company's discussions is crucial for the growth of Nike as a brand and sport as a whole.
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 worrying trend of female athletes getting pregnant is especially concerning for those who have given their lives to their chosen sport. Nike's policy concerning maternity leaves athletes feeling unprotected. Many of them spoke out and demanded protection against punishment after childbirth.
Nike's 18-month-old pregnancy policy protects them in the face of pay cuts
Pay cuts are often criticized for women in sport, including the Olympic team. Nike took the initiative to protect female sports stars 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 Feliz
Allyson Felix was involved with Nike a few years back in a dispute over maternity rights. She claimed that Nike's approach was tone deaf and disrespectful. Nike eventually agreed to make some changes, including not penalizing Felix during pregnancy and postpartum. The situation is not ideal for everyone. In light of the new situation, Felix has signed a new contract with Athleta.
Alyssia Monteano's pregnancy
Alyssia Montano has made headlines as a pregnant Olympic athlete. Mexican-born Alysia Montano was pregnant when she competed in women's marathons in 2014 and 2017. The company reduced her salary retroactively because of her pregnancy. 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 baby, she decided to leave Nike and sign with Asics. Here, she was able continue competing and compete without any 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 to the nike ad
Allyson Felix currently negotiates with Nike about 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.