Sabrina Ionescu Confirms Nike Deal After Being The First Overall Pick In The 2020 WNBA Draft

Via WNBA

After being selected as the no. 1 overall pick in the 2020 WNBA Draft, Sabrina Ionescu took to Instagram to announce and confirm that she had signed a multi-year endorsement deal with Nike.

According to ESPN, Ionescu secured offers worth multiple times her expected WNBA salary. The company offers were even outpacing the value of recent WNBA Finals MVP-level player deals.

"During a time when we all need sport more than ever, we are thrilled to have a generational talent like Sabrina join the Nike family," Rosemary St. Clair, the VP/general manager of Nike Women, told ESPN. "Together, we're going to bring even more excitement to the game of basketball and inspire the next generation of athletes."

Less than an hour after Ionescu's official jersey was available; the jersey's sold out. Nike is the jersey provider for the WNBA, and now that Ionescu has signed a deal with Nike, it can also sell Oregon jerseys with her name on the back, according to ESPN. Ionescu jerseys were back in limited stock Sunday night and will ship no later than June 1.

Orlando Magic City Edition Uniform

via Orlando Magic

Being a native Orlandoan, I've always had mixed emotions about the Orlando Magic. Don't get me wrong, I will always support my home team, but the Magic never felt like my home team. Orlando has become a transplant city. People from all over the world come here to see that magical place where the mouse lives. Or they relocate after spending a lifetime up north. Very few people know or understand the history of this City Beautiful, but Nike has taken the time to help those who are interested, understand.

via Orlando Magic

With the new addition to their family of uniforms, The Orlando Magic unveiled their new City Edition Jersey back in November. The first thing I thought of when I saw the basketball uniform, was "wow, they changed the entire color scheme." After getting past the shock value of an Orlando Magic jersey not being blue or white with stars or stripes, the jersey instantly made me think of the things this City Beautiful is known for.

The reality of this orange jersey did not disappoint. Instead, it exceeded expectations. The uniforms, which pay homage to Central Florida's ties to the citrus industry, feature a dark gray base with orange lettering and trim. As the NBA stated, "From its very early beginnings, orange has been a part of Orlando – from sunshine to orange groves to Orange County to Orange Ave., it's the color thread that intertwines the fabric of this city, its people and this team". The minimalist design, with the simple "ORL" abbreviation on the front, definitely stands out among the other uniforms in Orlando's lineup.

From My Perspective

In their partnership, Nike and the NBA have taken marketing through sports and of sports to a new level. Nike has given the NBA a face-lift on the court and the talent. With new City Edition uniforms coming each season, the NBA is staying fresh and relevant in the minds of consumers, while also giving fans a tangible and emotional connection to their city and their favorite teams.

What are your thoughts on this season's Orlando Magic City Edition uniforms? Will you be buying a jersey to represent your city and your home team?