Nike's New Ad Coincides With USWNT's First World Cup Game, #NoMaybes Campaign

Nike yesterday debuted an ad to "coincide with the U.S. Women's National Team's opening game in the World Cup," according to Allan Brettman of the Portland OREGONIAN. The spot -- backed by The Guess Who's "American Woman" -- "coincides with a Nike Soccer #NoMaybes marketing campaign" and features U.S. players Abby Wambach, Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Sydney Leroux, Carli Lloyd and Christen Press. The cleats worn by the players in the ad are part of Nike's new collection, "available in women's sizes for the first time." Nike also for the first time is "offering the women's national jersey" in men's sizes. Nike in February "introduced the away uniform" (Portland OREGONIAN, 6/9).

THE SECRET WORLD OF ALEX MORGAN: ESPNW's Janet Reitman noted Morgan since debuting with the national team in '10 has "scored sponsorship deals with Nike, McDonald's, Coca-Cola, Tampax, ChapStick and Beats by Dre." Morgan's agent, Dan Levy, said that her endorsement income "is seven figures, making her one of the world's highest-earning women soccer players." Reitman noted Morgan now is "poised to become the game's most famous woman after Wambach likely retires this summer." Morgan: "I don't want to say names, but there are certain companies I won't work with because of previous people they've worked with. I don't want to be put in the same category as another athlete that I don't necessarily think is a good role model." Morgan has "posed twice for the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition, including in nothing but body paint" in '12. But Morgan explained that she "saw a chance to promote women's soccer while also confronting her insecurity about having small breasts." Morgan said the main reason she agreed was "to help young women feel comfortable in whatever body type they were given" (ESPNW.com, 6/8).

THERE SHE GOES AGAIN: In N.Y., Stefan Bondy wrote of Leroux, "You can't miss the 25-year-old forward if you’re paying attention to the pictures and posters." She is "there on Nike ads, her many tattoos accentuated," while ESPN has "turned her into its favorite subject, documenting her life in multiple profiles and her naked body in its Body magazine issue." What cannot be disputed is Leroux’s "growing public profile, one that she’s eager to preserve with determined activity on social media." Leroux has "adopted the role of the spunky and outspoken member of the group, with high-profile relationships" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/7).