“It feels great to be a Nike Blue Ribbon Elite athlete. Growing up and seeing the world’s best athletes in Nike, I wanted to be one of them, so this is a dream come true. It is a tremendous honor to represent Nike and South Carolina and be in this position.”
General
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South Carolina Athletics officially enters Nike era
Plus, several current Gamecock student-athletes added to Nike's Blue Ribbon Elite NIL Roster
Eleven months after announcing that Nike would become its official shoe and apparel partner, South Carolina Athletics announced today, July 1, its 10-year partnership with Nike, a brand born from college sport and built to empower the next generation, has officially begun. The partnership makes Nike the official supplier of uniforms, footwear, apparel, and equipment for the entire South Carolina Athletics program.
“Today is the official start of a new era for Gamecock Nation,” said Athletics Director Jeremiah Donati, “one that is fueled by tradition, momentum, and one of the most passionate fan bases in college sports. This partnership marks more than a change in apparel. It represents a shared vision for excellence, competition, and the continued elevation of the South Carolina Athletics brand. We are proud to join the Nike family and look forward to providing our student-athletes, coaches, and staff with the very best in athletic performance and brand representation.”
“Nike has set a standard of what world-class excellence looks like in collegiate athletics, Olympic, and professional sports, and that aligns with what we aim to achieve here at South Carolina,” Donati continued. “Their commitment to innovation, performance, and storytelling aligns perfectly with our vision for the future. We are excited about our relationship with Nike and love their vision for us. I cannot thank Elliott Hill (President and CEO, NIKE, Inc.), Ann Miller (EVP Global Sports Marketing, NIKE, Inc.), and their team members enough for their collective efforts in what is quickly becoming a great partnership between South Carolina and Nike.”
Why Nike?
For more than five decades, Nike has shaped the landscape of sports worldwide. Their Swoosh has become synonymous with excellence and has been worn by some of the greatest athletes and teams in history.
The partnership brings together two brands that share common values:
- A commitment to excellence.
- A relentless competitive spirit.
- Innovation and forward thinking.
- Authenticity and tradition.
- The belief that sports can inspire and unite communities.
South Carolina Athletics has built a national reputation through competitive excellence, passionate fan support, and a commitment to developing student-athletes both on and off the field. Nike’s platform amplifies those strengths while positioning South Carolina for future growth.
“Having been a Nike athlete most of my life, I’m well-versed in what partnership with them means to an organization and its athletes. I am excited that all of our teams at South Carolina will get to feel that, too. For our Women’s Basketball team, only good things have happened when we’ve partnered with A’ja Wilson, so I look forward to what’s coming next in that legacy.”
Women’s Basketball Head Coach Dawn Staley
“Our move to Nike has generated tremendous excitement throughout our program. Our student-athletes, coaches, recruits, and fans are energized, and we're proud to align with a brand that shares our commitment to excellence as we continue to move Gamecock Football forward.”
Head Football Coach Shane Beamer
Several Gamecocks Set to Join Nike’s Blue Ribbon Elite NIL Roster
Nike and South Carolina also announced today the addition of five top Gamecock student-athletes to Nike’s prestigious Blue Ribbon Elite program. A first-of-its-kind program, Nike Blue Ribbon Elite represents a broad portfolio of student-athletes across disciplines, reimagining the NIL space by providing leading student-athletes and universities an unmatched level of collaboration that prioritizes the future of sport and individual identity.
Joining Nike’s growing roster of roughly 80 elite NIL student-athletes from across the country are Gamecock Athletics Women’s Basketball student-athletes Joyce Edwards and Chloe Kitts, and Football student-athletes LaNorris Sellers, Nyck Harbor, and Dylan Stewart.
The Nike Blue Ribbon Elite program connects select collegiate student-athletes for opportunities to build their personal brands through NIL initiatives, social media campaigns, appearances, and other marketing opportunities associated with Nike. The aforementioned South Carolina student-athletes will now have access to a powerful platform that can help elevate their visibility and expand opportunities beyond competition.
As the NIL landscape continues to evolve, partnerships that create meaningful opportunities for student-athletes remain an important component of the modern collegiate athletics experience.
“The opportunity for our student-athletes to leverage Nike’s Blue Ribbon Elite Program is an incredible benefit,” said Donati. “NIL has created meaningful opportunities for our student-athletes to build and grow their personal brands, and we look forward to partnering with Nike to expand those opportunities and help position our student-athletes for success both during and beyond their time at South Carolina.”
The Nike Blue Ribbon Elite program, named after Nike’s humble beginnings, reflects the brand’s long-held, leading position in sport, college and NIL partnership, as well as an enduring commitment to making athletes better — from pioneering the first truly comprehensive “all-sports” partnership in the 1980s to today’s creative, career-building collaborations with top NIL student-athletes.
Nike’s partnership with each Blue Ribbon Elite student-athlete goes beyond brand representation, inspiring the student body and community to collaborate through brand campaigns, product innovation and creative direction.
In short: When programs and athletes sign with Nike, they don’t just rep the Swoosh — they help shape it.
Nike’s commitment to listening to the voices of its NIL student-athletes takes shape in individual, personalized support, both in their performance and training and in their most important moments away from the game. From product and styling to support with media and content, Nike leverages the full weight of the brand to provide a best-in-class partnership to student-athletes across its NIL roster — giving them tools for long-term success across sport, business and culture.
Nike’s NIL partnerships also extend to student-athlete centered design and innovation, as well as support for them in their pursuit to stand for something bigger. This industry-leading approach reflects Nike’s five-decade history as the brand of athletes and underscores its continued commitment to inspiring and uplifting the next generation.
“South Carolina has built one of the most incredible athletic cultures in the country, and that kind of greatness deserves a partner that knows how to fuel it,” says Ann Miller, EVP, Global Sports Marketing at NIKE, Inc. “From Dawn Staley’s program to every Gamecock competing for a title, we’re proud to put the Swoosh on their uniforms and welcome them as the newest member of our Nike Blue Ribbon Elite family.”
Gamecock fans can purchase the latest Garnet and Black Nike gear at the Official Online Store of the South Carolina Gamecocks – shop.gamecocksonline.com – and at select retail outlets throughout South Carolina.
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