WNBA teams beginning next season will be able to sell additional jersey advertising with a new logo patch located on the upper left-hand shoulder of game jerseys. The new patches add to WNBA team jersey advertising that already includes the logo of a team’s marquee sponsor located above the numbers on the front of the uniform and the Nike logo located on the right shoulder of the jersey. Nine of the league’s 12 teams have marquee jersey sponsorship deals. The size of the third patch will be 2.25 inches by 2.25 inches and must be separate from the team’s marquee jersey sponsor. The WNBA is also allowing teams next year to sell on-court advertising near both foul lines to a single sponsor. The on-court ads must be removed for all games broadcast by ESPN. Footwear and apparel brands and other game-related products will be prohibited from both the jersey patch and the on-floor ads to avoid any conflict with exclusive WNBA partners. WNBA COO Jay Parry said, “The league is in a growth mode, and we want to continue to innovate. We are excited to bring the jersey badge and new on-court opportunities as ways for brands to connect with teams in meaningful ways. You can’t get any closer to the game than these opportunities.” WNBA teams will keep all revenue from the new sponsorship inventory. “The new assets are treated as other team assets,” Parry said. “It is a team revenue opportunity.”
