Michael Jordan and the Jordan brand still dominate the basketball shoe market. More than 80 percent of all sales dominate. It’s not even a contest.
So the signing of Maya Moore as the first woman ever as part of the Jordan Brand is huge, something the company announced this week.
Moore is the back-to-back national champion and back-to-back national player of the year from UConn who was the top pick of the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx. She is not only the best player to come out of the college ranks in years, she also is one of the most likeable and marketable.
“As a student of the game, it is a dream come true to align myself with a brand that has a rich history in sports,” said Maya Moore. “Like most kids, I grew up idolizing Michael Jordan and continue to work relentlessly to reach his iconic status on the court. I’m truly motivated to take my career to the next level as a member of Team Jordan.”
The details in terms of product have yet to be determined, but Moore will become the face of the Jordan brand in the WNBA. In the NBA that brand has many faces — Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul — but now expect a ramped up presences in women’s basketball. Expect her to start popping up in Nike commercials and in a variety of other Nike efforts. A signature shoe may even not be out of the question down the line.
The deal is rumored to be for between $3 million and $4 million.
This is a boost to the credibility of the women’s game and the WNBA, an area where the game has made strides but still fights battles. It may have taken Nike a while to get here and a lot of very good and deserving players may have been passed over, but this is still progress. It’s still a step forward.
It’s a good thing. A very good thing.