“Skechers Isn’t Just Showing up for a Season, They’re Showing up for Our Legacy”: Kiki Iriafen on Skechers Multi-Year Partnership With the WNBA
- The Ballers Magazine
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
In a season that celebrates the league's 30th anniversary, features a historic new collective bargaining agreement (CBA), two expansion teams in the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire, and exciting movement across rosters in rising and veteran talent alike, the landmark multiyear partnership announcement between the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and Skechers—naming Skechers an Official Partner of the league—feels like the icing on the cake.
“Partnering with the WNBA illustrates our long-term commitment to promoting women’s basketball and elevating the athletes who are enthusiastic about the game at every level,” said David Weinberg, Chief Operating Officer at Skechers. “Skechers has been part of the basketball community for several seasons, and now fans will see our innovative footwear take center stage in the WNBA for the first time. We look forward to leveraging the league’s exploding popularity to help grow the sport while introducing our signature Comfort That Performs to even more athletes around the world.”
As a global footwear and apparel leader, Skechers’ commitment to women’s basketball is evident in its expanding roster of athlete endorsers—including Rickea Jackson (Chicago Sky), Kiki Iriafen (Washington Mystics), and Jackie Young (Las Vegas Aces).
For Washington Mystics forward and Skechers athlete, Kiki Iriafen, this multiyear partnership holds special meaning as a young, rising star in the league. "Honestly, it means everything. As a young player coming into this league, you want to know that the brands you represent believe in you—not just for a moment, but for the long haul. A multi-year partnership with Skechers shows real commitment; it signals to me and every other young woman coming up in this sport that our futures are worth investing in. Skechers isn’t just showing up for a season, they’re showing up for our legacy, and that kind of support pushes me to show up and work even harder every single day,"Iriafen highlights.
At a time where there are more eyes on women's sports than ever before, partnerships like this continue to set the standard and impact the industry's landscape at a global scale. "I think partnerships like this are how you change the game. When a major global brand like Skechers makes a landmark commitment to the WNBA, it sends a powerful message to the entire world that women’s sports should be watched and supported at every level," Iriafen emphasizes. "I think that it also opens doors for greater visibility, more sponsorships, and for young girls everywhere who are dreaming of playing professionally."
“When Skechers signed me ahead of the draft last year, I knew this was a brand that believed not only in me, but in our sport overall,” added Iriafen. “From design to promotion, they truly prioritize the needs of female athletes and now that they’re partnered with the W, the possibilities are limitless.”
Skechers redefines basketball footwear with its innovative collection engineered for athletes of all skill levels. The lineup includes the fast and responsive SKX NEXUS, the flexible SKX Full- Court Press™, the lightweight SKX Resagrip® featuring advanced cushioning, and the SKX Reign™ for exceptional elevation and intense traction, amongst others. With Comfort That Performs® key to the entire range, Skechers empowers players to focus on their game and reach new heights every time they step onto the court.
The full Skechers Basketball collection is available at Skechers retail stores and skechers.com, as well as specialty athletic shops around the world. Fans can get behind-the-scenes access to Skechers Basketball product launches and more by following @skechersbasketball on Instagram and TikTok.