PUMA unveils new WPS match ball

The official 2010 PUMA WPS ball has been bouncing through Philadelphia all week and was finally unveiled tonight at the NSCAA Soccer Convention.

Those following the ball’s  journey through Philly found it first on the famed stairs that Rocky ascended in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. On Day Two of the  ball’s journey through the City of Brotherly Love, it made a pit stop at the Italian Market where it found company amongst the spaghetti squash and rutabaga. The new WPS game ball next bounced over to Pat’s King of Steaks on Day Three for a quick snack and to weigh in on the argument Philadelphians have been having for centuries (who serves the best cheese steak).

The mysterious sphere then made it’s way over to the Philadelphia Convention tonight just in time for its big moment. And it was at the NSCAA Convention, where WPS Commissioner Tonya Antonucci unveiled the new WPS Official Match Ball as PUMA athlete and Los Angeles Sol goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc made her “first save” on the new ball, snaring a practice shot on one of the clinic fields at the Convention Center.

After securing the ball’s “first save”, Leblanc walked over and presented PUMA’s WPS PWR-C 1.10, the Official Match Ball of the 2010 WPS Season, to Commissioner Antonucci.

The WPS PWR-C 1.10 features a unique 20-panel construction developed with the aim of improving both shooting speed and flight distance. The ball is abrasion-resistant and water-repellent and, for the first time in PUMA’s history, high-frequency molded instead of hand-stitched, providing improved stability of form and less water uptake.

PUMA’s new ball comes with a two-year shape guarantee and features an innovative take on the jasmine green colorway first seen in the WPS Official Match Ball developed for the league’s inaugural year. The WPS PWR-C 1.10 will be showcased on-field throughout the 2010 WPS season and will be used for the first time in a regular season game when the Washington Freedom kick off against the Boston Breakers on Saturday, April 10 at the Maryland SoccerPlex.

Play on…

Puma and WPS make a great team

After another weekend of play, the Los Angeles Sol (7-1-3) remain atop the WPS standings. Camille Abily and PUMA spokeswoman Marta lead the team with six and four goals respectively.

Just prior to the start of the Women’s Professional Soccer season, brand PUMA and WPS announced an exclusive partnership making PUMA an official founding partner of the new league and an official sponsor of all WPS franchises.

The multi-year partnership makes PUMA the official sport and lifestyle apparel, footwear and equipment supplier of WPS, including the official WPS Match Ball. In addition to on-field performance wear, PUMA will outfit the athletes and teams at all WPS-related events, activities and WPS appearances in sportlifestyle apparel. This partnership kicked off last month and will see PUMA collaborating with WPS to enhance the game of women’s soccer and will act as the foundation in the PUMA Women’s category.

That’s just the start for PUMA, which will have its name and logo on the league’s balls, uniforms, goalkeeper equipment, even sports bras. “Women’s soccer is on a tremendous growth pattern in the U.S.,” says Jochen Zeitz, chief executive of PUMA. “This is a huge opportunity for us.”

PUMA’s decision to join forces with WPS is part of an effort to target its marketing to young women. The company already has a footwear deal with Brazilian star Marta Vieira da Silva who is widely recognized as the best female soccer player in the world and currently playing for the Los Angeles Sol. PUMA also has a deal with U.S. national team player Leslie Osborne, who will be playing for FC Gold Pride.

Given PUMA’s name recognition and reach in soccer, the deal is a milestone for the new women’s league, especially amid a global recession.  Kudos PUMA. And Kudos Abily and Marta for bringing such energy and excitment to the game.

Learn more…

PUMA scores big with Women’s Professional Soccer

Just prior to the start of the Women’s Professional Soccer season, global sport lifestyle brand PUMA and WPS announced an exclusive partnership making PUMA an official founding partner of the new league and an official sponsor of all WPS franchises.

The multi-year partnership makes PUMA the official sport and lifestyle apparel, footwear and equipment supplier of WPS, including the official WPS Match Ball. In addition to on-field performance wear, PUMA will outfit the athletes and teams at all WPS-related events, activities and WPS appearances in sportlifestyle apparel. This partnership kicked off last month  and will see PUMA collaborating with WPS to enhance the game of women’s soccer and will act as the foundation in the PUMA Women’s category.

That’s just the start for PUMA, which will have its name and logo on the league’s balls, uniforms, goalkeeper equipment, even sports bras. “Women’s soccer is on a tremendous growth pattern in the U.S.,” says Jochen Zeitz, chief executive of PUMA. “This is a huge opportunity for us.”

PUMA’s decision to join forces with WPS is part of an effort to target its marketing to young women. The company already has a footwear deal with Brazilian star Marta Vieira da Silva  who is widely recognized as the best female soccer player in the world and  currently playing for the Los Angeles Sol. PUMA also has a deal with U.S. national team player Leslie Osborne, who will be playing for FC Gold Pride.

Given PUMA’s name recognition and reach in soccer, the deal is a milestone for the new women’s league especially amid a global recession so kudos to PUMA.

Learn more…

WPS unveils new Puma uniforms

The stars of Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS), including three-time FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year, Marta, number one WPS draft pick and Olympic Gold Medalist, Amy Rodriguez, and US National Team midfielder and Women’s World Cup bronze medalist, Leslie Osborne, unveiled the league’s Puma designed home and away uniforms in New York last night at a high-profile fashion presentation.  

Appealing color combos were on display but the skorts got a thumbs-down from many fans.  Kristine Lilly and Hope Solo appeared on the Today Show this morning and said the skort is a “wrap” and just an accessory so hopefully we won’t be seeing them on the field.

TV personality and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist (swimming), Summer Sanders hosted the fashion show, while designer and winner of TV’s Project Runway Season 4, Christian Siriano added to the excitement by designing his own fashion interpretation of a home and away uniforms inspired by the colors and materials from of the league’s uniforms. The WPS uniforms will be put to the test in the WPS Inaugural Match on March 29th in Los Angeles, California when the Los Angeles Sol takes on the Washington Freedom.

Siriano has been a long time friend of the PUMA brand, designing outfits for musicians such as Estelle and Lady Gaga using existing PUMA fabrics and pieces. For this special uniform unveiling, in true PUMA fashion, Siriano designed his take on the home and away uniforms by infusing his style, personality and charm with the PUMA sportlifestyle DNA and female athletes in mind.

“This is the first time I’ve ever designed for athletes – it’s perfect because I always design for strong women in my Ready to Wear collections and professional athletes definitely have to be tough in mind, body and spirit,” said fashion designer Christian Siriano. “These soccer players are amazing and I love it!”

For those in the LA area, the Los Angeles Sol is hosting a free public event on March 8th where you can check out the new kits and meet the players.

Find more photos like this on Women’s Professional Soccer

Women’s Professional Soccer scores deal with PUMA

December 15, 2008 – Global sport lifestyle brand PUMA and Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) announced an exclusive partnership making PUMA an official founding partner of  WPS and an official sponsor of all WPS  franchises.

The multi-year partnership makes PUMA the official sport and lifestyle apparel, footwear and equipment supplier of WPS, including the official WPS Match Ball.  In addition to on-field performance wear, PUMA will outfit the athletes and teams at all WPS-related events, activities and WPS appearances in sportlifestyle apparel. This partnership kicks off with the inaugural season in April 2009 and will see PUMA collaborating with WPS to enhance the game of women’s soccer and will act as the foundation in the PUMA Women’s category.  (via press release)

According to the WSJ, the German shoe manufacturer and clothing retailer will pay roughly $10 million to become the official equipment supplier to WPS. That means that if players in the seven-team league don’t have existing deals with other cleat makers (e.g. Abby Wambach and Nike), they will wear PUMAS during WPS games.

That’s just the start for PUMA, which will have its name and logo on the league’s balls, uniforms, goalkeeper equipment, even sports bras. “Women’s soccer is on a tremendous growth pattern in the U.S.,” says Jochen Zeitz, chief executive of PUMA. “This is a huge opportunity for us.”

PUMA ranks third by sales behind Nike and Adidas in the global athletic-footwear market and fifth in the U.S. Its decision to join forces with WPS is part of an effort to target its marketing to young women. The company already has a footwear deal with Brazilian star Marta Vieira da Silva, who is widely recognized as the best female soccer player in the world, and is expected to play in WPS. PUMA also has a deal with U.S. national team player Leslie Osborne, who will be playing for FC Gold Pride.

If I remember correctly, Nike provided uniforms for some of the now defunct WUSA teams, which may have led girls and their moms to assume the company was providing key corporate support. I believe, however, Nike declined a league invitation to be its exclusive sponsor and failed to provide help when the league needed it most.

Given PUMA’s name recognition and reach in soccer, the deal is a milestone for the new women’s league especially amid a global recession so kudos to PUMA.