In March 2022, Nike launched the Nike Athlete Think Tank, a platform designed to support women and girls in sports. Since then, women athletes like Ada Hegerberg (soccer) and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (track and field) have helped athletes in 20 different community organizations.
Now in its third year and for the first time, the Athlete Think Tank will include coaches from the highest levels of sport. The addition of coaches reflects a key insight from previous think tank cohorts: to champion athletes, you must also champion coaches, listening to their ideas and meeting their unique needs, Nike says.
The five coaches come from different sports and countries, such as US women’s national team head coach Emma Hayes and South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley. Also included are the three coaches, Jenny Lang Ping, Dawn Staley, and Diljeet Taylor.
The think tank also includes professional soccer player Alex Morgan, who plays for the US National Team, British swimmer Alice Dearing; college basketball players Kiki Rice, Laurie Hernandez, Nelly Korda, Oksana Masters, Romane Dicko, Sky Brown, Tunde Oyeneyin and Yulimar Rojas.
Over the past three years, Athlete Think Tank has brought together athletes and coaches to share their insights, thoughts, and visions for a more equitable future for sport.
To help break down barriers of access and achievement, Nike continues to invest in the community organizations that matter to Athlete Think Tank. This year, the brand will donate $1.7 million to nonprofit organizations selected by the collective’s members.
