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Skechers and Los Angeles Sparks star Rickea Jackson are elevating the women’s game – Andscape

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Skechers has announced a 3rd colorway of the SKX Nexus basketball shoe with support from Los Angeles Sparks standout rookie Rickei Jackson. The SKX Nexus is Sketchers’ fourth basketball shoe because it hit the scene last yr.

The 2024 WNBA All-Rookie forward is one among the few players to decide on an organization latest to women’s basketball and the game itself. Recently, Sydney Colson defended the Las Vegas Aces signed a contract with Creative Control as the first signature athlete, bringing the total variety of energetic WNBA players with a shoe contract to seven.

“More players have more opportunities if it’s proactive by design or if a decision is made to do something different,” said Lindsay Kagawa Colas, executive vice chairman of talent at Wasserman’s sports marketing and talent management firm. “Sometimes this also includes companies that have not traditionally had a presence in the market, and in these deals athletes have the opportunity to do different things and shape the deal the way they want.”

Los Angeles Sparks forward Rickea Jackson has teamed up with Skechers to release a brand new black and pink colorway of the SKX Nexus sneaker.

Skechers

The marketing of signature sneakers, gamer sneakers, merchandise and endorsements has modified significantly since the October 1995 release of Nike Air Swoopes, the first signature shoe awarded to a WNBA player, 4-time WNBA champion Sheryl Swoopes.

“Many WNBA players have dedicated fan bases, not just those that get a lot of coverage,” said award-winning writer and sports journalist Lyndsey D’Arcangelo. “Sydney Colson, who buys sneakers, is a perfect example of this. She is not a top player, but she has her supporters and fan base. There are other ways to convince gamers who aren’t Nike fans to support your product, which gives brands a chance to get creative.”

For the first 20 years, women’s basketball shoe offerings were limited to major brands comparable to Puma, Fila, Nike and Adidas. Skechers has now taken an interest in basketball and hopes to provide a WNBA player a signature shoe in the future.

“When you get into basketball, it’s bi-gender,” said Greg Smith, Skechers vice chairman of product development and merchandising. “It took us some time to find the right player. Rickea is an amazing player, a great brand ambassador and a partner worth working with. Our first year, we wanted to get some competition (both NBA and WNBA players).”

In addition to Jackson, the Sketchers basketball team includes Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle and LA Clippers guard Terance Mann.

Smith said that when choosing a WNBA player, the company needed someone who can be an extended-term player in the league. The company also desired to partner with an organization near Skechers’ headquarters in Manhattan Beach, California, and was willing to take a risk on an organization that was latest to the market.

“You could meet her and she wants to contribute to the product and the process,” Smith said. “She was perfect for us. There are a number of great options in the WNBA, but we just felt like she was the best fit for us.

IN Skechers first announcementJackson said: “I’m thrilled to be the first WNBA player to team up with Skechers. Although Skechers is a brand new player in the basketball world, its commitment to alignment, support and energetic collaboration with athletes is clear. The comfort and design of their shoes are really impressive. I like training in these shoes and cannot wait to see what we are able to achieve together.”

Kagawa Colas believes that the coronavirus pandemic has increased WNBA players’ participation in sneaker deals. According to National Statistical Officeretail stores were the biggest hit in 2020, but the pause allowed people to attach in latest ways.

“While some companies were pressing pause, others were simply exploring,” Kagawa Colas said. “For some it was a break, but for others it was the launching pad for much of what we see today. People wanted to speculate in things they were connected to, people desired to know who they were and what they cared about. People will soon discover that they’ve a lot in common with these players.

This disruption felt around the world has also contributed to the increase in social media use. Social media is a way for fans to attach with players and for agents to point out sneaker decision-makers how much fan interest their clients have.

The premiere of the black and pink colorway of the Skechers SKX Nexus sneakers is scheduled for October 15.

Skechers

“The tools we have today that prove that female athletes get the most bang for their buck, tools like numbers, metrics and social media audience monitoring, prove that the WNBA is a great business,” Kagawa Colas said.

Global sports and entertainment agency Octagon represents the majority of name offerings for Washington Mystics players Shakira Austin, Ariel Atkins and Shatori Walker-Kimbrough. There is nearly at all times a component of social media when negotiating contracts. Before concluding a contract, the agency determines what the content will appear like on its client’s channel and whether it can be compatible with it.

“The hardest thing lately has probably been around budget,” said Jianni Smith, Octagon marketing and communications manager. “There is still a disconnect between what a brand is willing to spend and what it should actually spend on a player. There’s definitely some negotiation going on, but by the time brands come to you, it’s usually already aligned with our customers’ interests.”

Since the league’s inception, agents have been in a position to include viewer numbers and rankings when presenting to their clients. Even with record growth WNBA viewership this yr continues to be half the battle. According to Kagawa Colas, a player’s popularity on social media is a very important factor influencing the increase in the variety of contracts for WNBA athletes.

“Women are often put in a position where they have to prove it before they invest, whereas men (for) people will be investing all day long,” Kagawa Colas said. “They always have to prove it when it comes to seeing if something will sell for a woman.”

Now that brands have begun marketing in women’s basketball, additional steps are needed to make sure athletes have longevity with their products. This includes ensuring product availability and availability, opening up opportunities to more players, and addressing issues that players care about.

Sketchers is currently focused on the WNBA, but in addition plans to play in a women’s college basketball league. Since the brand doesn’t have the rights to school or university apparel, this creates little hurdle in recruiting college athletes, while there are no restrictions on WNBA players signed with the company.

“We plan to continue to expand in the WNBA with more players and grow our business,” Smith said. “We can have a brand new shoe with more of Rickea’s insights, and we expect her perspective will help us create something for everybody. Rickea shouldn’t be our end, she is simply the starting. As you progress, you may find a way to search for more players with us.”

Alexis Davis is a former Rhoden Scholar. She loves pairing suits with sneakers and can name any shoe you show her. She quit basketball to cheer in highschool, but she hopes the women’s basketball coverage she does now will make the sport forgive her for moving to the other sideline.

This article was originally published on : andscape.com
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Jessica Simpson’s ‘creepy’ new look outraged fans as Eric Johnson divorce rumors intensify

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Singer Jessica Simpson has a new look and outlook on life that has fans calling her unrecognizable. The 2000s pop star and her husband of 10 years, Eric Johnson, are reportedly going through a marital crisis that has sparked rumors of an impending divorce.

Simpson and the retired NFL player have been married since 2014 three children: daughters Maxwell, 12, and Birdie, 5, and son Ace, 11.

Mr. and Mrs. spent a decade together experiencing the best of highs and the bottom of lows, which included the “I Wanna Love You Forever” artist’s battle with alcohol addiction and a dramatic 100-pound weight reduction.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 29: Jessica Simpson attends the 2023 Footwear Achievement Awards at Cipriani South Street on November 29, 2023 in New York City. (Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Footwear News via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 29: Jessica Simpson attends the 2023 Footwear Achievement Awards at Cipriani South Street on November 29, 2023 in New York City. (Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Footwear News via Getty Images)

This is her second marriage after her divorce from 98 Degrees singer Nick Lachey.

She raved about it last yr People that “when I met Eric, I felt like it was more nurturing. Everything was more supported. Everything seemed so simple.” Now, new reports say that the couple has lost the spark they usually are at a crossroads regarding the longer term.

“Jessica’s goals are to stay married and repair a relationship that has gone stale,” the alleged source said Page six. An insider noted that “Eric was an amazing father. He was by her side on her sobriety journey and was able to handle all of her ups and downs. He was her rock.”

Despite the “difficult situation”, the couple is claimed to be on the identical page with regards to coping with their problems before the vacations. “He wants her kids to do well, and she still loves him and he loves her… They’re both aware that things have to change if they’re going to make this work.”

Jessica Simpson and her husband Eric Johnson spotted without their wedding rings as the singer faces scrutiny over her new look. Photo: Jesssicasimpson/Instagram.

However, conflicting reports from TMZ they maintain that the split prompted a friend and member of Simpson’s team to contact two different divorce lawyers. The claims come days after she and Johnson were spotted individually in Los Angeles, without their wedding rings and the artist, who shared a post signaling a new starting.

“Interviews in my music room in Nashville where I discovered my special magic. “This comeback is personal, it’s an apology to myself for enduring everything I didn’t deserve,” Simpson wrote in a Nov. 12 Instagram caption. post.

– Yes, I called it some time ago. We love you. Stay strong,” a fan commented. Another follower said: “I just hope she doesn’t have to pay child support, it’s killing me!!!!!!” Simpson is the founding father of an eponymous billion-dollar clothing and footwear brand that has helped her amass a $200 million fortune.

The same day, paparazzi caught Johnson walks around Los Angeles. However, the marriage ring on his finger was noticeably missing.

More than a couple of fans have expressed concern concerning the “scary” change in her appearance following the separation reports. “Jessica obviously had Botox, but she’s still beautiful! I bet he’ll get a divorce!” read one such comment.

Several he asked“What’s wrong with Jessica’s face?” “Jessica looks AMAZING. She should have let her natural beauty shine,” one person said. Some speculations about her facial changes include Botox, fillers, and Ozempic.

A viewer joked: “She doesn’t even look like her.” However, when fans zoomed in on a photograph of Simpson together with her sister, Ashlee Simpson Ross, they concluded that each women “have acquired completely new faces.”

Someone else speculated that her sobriety issues can also be an element. “Alcohol didn’t help her,” one person said. November 1 marked seven years of sobriety. Another user shared: “I noticed her mouth is so full she’s slurring her words a bit.”

On September 15, Johnson celebrated his forty fifth birthday – a day that his wife had publicly celebrated in previous years with a loving post. This yr, nevertheless, Simpson took the freedom of writing a sweet message. In fact, her husband was last praised on her Instagram page in a 2023 birthday tribute to him.


This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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Chloe Bailey’s sultry dance music video faces criticism as fans call on her to ‘stop pushing’ a sexy image

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Things get interesting when Chöle Bailey puts on a leotard.

The singer’s latest song Instagram post on Friday, November 15, featured a sexy dance video dedicated to her latest single, “Nice Girls Finish Last.”

In the clip, Bailey dons a tight black leotard, sheer tights and high heels while dancing alone to her single in a dimly lit studio. Her caption, “It feels good to move again,” didn’t exactly prepare fans for the seductive moves they were about to see.

Chloe Bailey attends the 2024 BET Awards at the Peacock Theater on June 30, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo: Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)
Chloe Bailey attends the 2024 BET Awards on the Peacock Theater on June 30, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo: Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)

Throughout the video, Bailey flawlessly spins on the ground and demonstrates the moves related to the song’s exciting lyrics:

“Nice Girls Finish Last” is the most recent single from Bailey’s second album, Trouble in Paradise, which was released in August this yr.

Shadow Room shared the singer’s video and most agreed; hearing Bailey sing the lyrics is at all times welcome, but seeing her undressed gets boring.

“I need a branding team because it’s not working,” one person said.

This fan recognized Bailey’s potential as a complete package. “She can sing, she can dance, and the body is shaping… there is still a disconnect and I don’t know why!”

One follower quoted, “The over-sexualization of her image since she went solo is just weird and unnecessary.” One person responded in agreement, “That’s pathetic.” Another went further, wishing the singer would “stop hypersexualizing everyone.”

This person’s opinion shared the opinion of others, questioning the singer’s “authenticity”. “I think it just never feels like the authentic her that she can be. I just always feel like she’s performing in a way that’s not “her own.” She is beautiful, sexy in shape and incredibly talented. But we can’t seem to connect with her authenticity.”

“I know it sounds crazy, but she gives me virgin energy 😂,” said one commenter from the far left. But one other offered a more reasonable perspective. “This is what happens when you protect your children in religion. They meet the real world and go crazy.”

Another follower said the “Boy Bye” singer should listen to her fans. “She still doesn’t see what her fans have been screaming about since day one of the Bus It Challenge.” You’re too talented to be so hypersexual. I’ve never seen such a large fanbase demanding restraint and more modesty from an artist, and he or she continues to push for it. There is a real disconnect. It was cute, but will he sell those records? I do not know, we’ll see.

Since her solo appearance, Bailey has been criticized for her seductive appearance. She’s been raising the difficulty for the reason that debut of the risqué visual for her single “Have Mercy,” which caused a stir. Especially for fans who felt her image was too different from that of her Disney princess sister.

As the world reveled in the fantastic thing about her curves in 2021, Bailey sat down with “The Real” co-hosts Adrienne Bailon and Loni Love and talked to them about her journey into her sexuality and individuality.

“It’s constantly on my mind, and while I may seem confident most of the time, on the inside I don’t feel that way,” she said.

She explained further. “I have to remind myself that as long as I’m authentic and myself, you know that’s all that matters. People say I do too much, and maybe I do, but I don’t do it on purpose, it’s just the way I am. You can’t please everyone. Some people will like me and some won’t. It’s okay. I love everyone, I send love to both of them, they talk, so that’s good!”


This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union ignore their baby’s birthday after throwing an extravagant party for daughter Kaavia

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Gabrielle Union fans defend her against critics accusing her of not including Dwyane Wade

Fans can not seem to miss the void in Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union’s picture-perfect family photos, in addition to the absence of the previous NBA star’s youngest son, Xavier.

On November 7, the Wade family’s baby girl, Kaavia James, celebrated her sixth birthday. Photos from her big Barbie-themed party within the backyard of their Los Angeles home were posted to Instagram 4 days later. There are loads of posts from this eventful day comments marveling at her parents’ obvious love for her.

“You should plan for another baby!!! I just love it,” wrote a fan. Another said: “From the photos and videos she posted, you can really feel how much she loves and adores her dad. It’s so sweet and whole.”

Gabrielle Union's fans are defending her against criticism accusing her of not inviting Dwyane Wade's son, Xavier, to their family gatherings. (Photos: @gabunion/Instagram; @aja_metoyer/Instagram)
Gabrielle Union’s fans are defending her against criticism accusing her of not inviting Dwyane Wade’s son, Xavier, to their family gatherings. (Photos: @gabunion/Instagram; @aja_metoyer/Instagram)

But for a 3rd person, this completely happy moment was a reminder that Xavier isn’t shown attending vacations or special events with the complete Wade family. An outraged person wrote: “It’s crazy that his other son was never shamed by YALLL!”

It has been well documented that the actress and the retired NBA star form a blended family unit, with Union serving as an additional mom to her husband’s children, Zaya and Zaire, and his adopted nephew, Dahveon.

Wade welcomed two older children together with his first wife, Siovaughn Funches. Funches and the Chicago native were married in 2002 but separated in 2007. Their divorce was finalized in 2010, and a 12 months later, in 2011, Wade gained sole custody of their children.

Xavier’s surprise addition took place on November 10, 2013. The news hit the press shortly thereafter. The former Miami Heat star and Union briefly split after three years of dating when Wade impregnated former “Basketball Wives” forged member Aja Metoyer. He alleged that unbeknownst to the general public, the 2 had been friends for a while.

Union and her longtime love reconnected shortly after checking out she was expecting their third child. The former Miami Heat star has since publicly revealed that telling Union about his “broken baby” was the toughest thing he’s ever done – “harder” than losing to the San Antonio Spurs within the 2014 NBA Finals.

“Yes,” Wade replied. “Man, listen, let me tell you, I wouldn’t have made it through this moment without her.” Wade proposed to Shannon Sharpe on “Club Shay Shay” in September 2023. “It’s been a tough time for me, bro.”

However, this didn’t prevent them from getting married in 2014. Due to the “Deliver Us from Eve” star’s struggles with infertility, they were unable to welcome their only biological child, Kaavia, together through a surrogate until 2018.

Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union have received criticism for not publicly celebrating their baby’s birthday ahead of their daughter Kaavia’s birthday party. (Photos: @kaaviajames/Instagram, @aja_metoyer/Instagram)

However, as he celebrates his birthday and shares loving posts, there isn’t any public appreciation for Xavier on any of the A-lister’s social media. Metoyer rarely posts details about her son online and has chosen to not share footage she recorded of his birthday party.

Instead, on her Instagram Story, she shared a friend’s video of the 11-year-old blowing out the candles on his cake as family members gathered around him within the kitchen. The co-parents gathered earlier to have a good time Xavier’s 2020 birthday.

Wade and the “Perfect Find” star got here under fire in early November when their young son was apparently excluded from the revealing of a ballista statue outside the Kaseya Center. The couple never commented on these rumors.

At least one person he theorized“How do people not know if the child had other plans with the mother? This is a random question. Let these people live in the family the way they want!”

For a moment last 12 months, fans almost convinced themselves that Xavier can be shown more public recognition after he was spotted on the court during a Lakers game together with his dad. Around the identical time, rumors of a rift between Wade and Union intensified.


This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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