Champion will debut a 30-second TV spot showcasing its
WNBA apparel line during the league's first nationally
televised game of the season on Lifetime tomorrow night. The
spot, which continues Champion's tagline, "Nothing Matters
but the Game," will air during WNBA games on NBC, ESPN and
Lifetime as well as local telecasts. The new ad, produced
by NBA Entertainment, features game action of WNBA players
outfitted in Champion uniforms, intercut with outdoor scenes
of pick-up players also in Champion WNBA apparel, including
team- and league identified jerseys. During the spot, a
voiceover says: "When you score ... I score. ... When you
sweat ... I sweat. ... When you hurt ... I hurt. ... What
your wear ... I wear." The ad closes with the WNBA and
Champion logo and the "Nothing Matters" tag. The WNBA's
Cynthia Cooper, Lisa Leslie, Michele Timms and Teresa
Weatherspoon are players featured in the spot (WNBA).
ON THE MARKET: Champion will also team with Champs
Sports on a one-page ad highlighting Champion's WNBA apparel
line sold at Champs stores. The ad appears in the August
issues of Seventeen and Teen People (WNBA). AD AGE's Jeff
Jensen reports that Nike has created "a slew" of new WNBA
spots, that "play on the accessibility of WNBA stars and the
passion of young fans," to air during national telecasts.
In addition, Cynthia Cooper will appear in spots for A-B's
Bud Light and GM's Buick Regal GS; AmEx will offer a gift
with the purchase of $40 worth of WNBA merchandise at
JCPenney and sponsor player appearances at "key stores in
each market;" and Fila and first-year sponsor Lady Foot
Locker are also "creating league-theme ads." On the TV
side, ESPN and Wieden & Kennedy have created a 70's-style
soul group, the WNB-AYS, to promote the net's WNBA
broadcasts. Some of the group's songs will be distributed
to ESPN Magazine subscribers in July (AD AGE, 6/8 issue).
