NFLPA Teams Up with WNBA, USWNT Players' Associations

The U.S. Women’s National Team Players Association and Women’s National Basketball Players Association will join as founding partners.

GLOBAL–NFL Players Inc., the licensing and marketing arm of the NFL Players Association, has teamed up with the U.S. Women’s National Team Players Association, which represents the rights of women soccer players, and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association to launch the new group player representation business REP Worldwide.

REP Worldwide (Representing Every Player) will offer extensive resources, licensing and brand management services to a cultivated portfolio of athlete-driven sports properties. The business’ initial representation services will include: strategic planning, leveraging athlete IP group rights; structuring licenses and sponsorships; consulting on marketing activation strategy; driving support for players and licensees at retail; and developing unique content opportunities across platforms via ACE Media, the NFLPA’s content and production subsidiary.

“We’re excited about the potential of this new business,” says Ahmad Nassar, president, NFL Players Inc. “Building on the athlete likeness commercialization successes we’ve seen through the NFLPA, REP Worldwide can immediately stand alone in terms of what it can offer athletes and partners alike.”

The new business will also feature an athlete advisory board and an executive board, each comprised of representatives from its founding partners. Furthermore, the NFLPA will serve as the majority shareholder and will work in collaboration with its founding partners to develop the business.

“Working with REP Worldwide gives the WNBPA a leap forward in our group licensing program,” says Terri Jackson, director of operations, WNBPA. “The WNBPA is the first sports union for women and next year we celebrate our twentieth anniversary. We want this milestone year to include maximizing all licensing and marketing opportunities for our incredible and diverse athletes.”