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. The two athletes in question are tennis legend Serena Williams and WNBA star Sabrina Ionescu, and the Nike Collective was founded to make sure that female athletes were part of the company's decisions. Additionally, the company needs female athletes to participate in discussions. This is critical for the success of Nike and all sports.
13 of the top Nike sponsored athletes are currently 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. This is because athletes feel unprotected by Nike's policy on maternity. Many of them spoke out and demanded protection against punishment after childbirth.
Nike's new pregnancy policy protects them for 18 months from any pay cut
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 wrote to female athletes to say that they hadn't adequately considered pregnancy in their sponsorship agreements. However, they have since added protection language for pregnant athletes to their contracts. Felix explains why Nike has made a change to its policy.
Allyson Felix
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 made changes and did not penalize Felix for poor performance in pregnancy or after birth. This unfortunate situation affects all parties. Felix has now signed a new contract at Athleta, in light of the current situation.
Alyssia Montano's pregnancy
Alyssia Monteno is a pregnant Olympic Olympian. 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 explained that Nike and U.S. Olympic Committee pressured her to get back to her former athletic form quickly. After her first pregnancies, she left Nike to sign with Asics. This allowed her to continue competing without losing any of the pay. The company was concerned that her future sponsorships could be at risk if she didn't return to her old level.
Allyson Felix reacts at nike's advertisement
Allyson Felix has been in negotiations with Nike for her maternity coverages. She says that when Nike asked her to appear in an ad about female empowerment, she was unaware that she was pregnant. Her contract with the firm expired in December and she was asked for a 70% cut in her pay to keep the company. In addition, she requested certain maternity protections, such as the right to choose a doctor, which Nike denied. The ad has caused a larger debate on the rights of female athletes.