Some weeks ago, we reported that Nike has shifted its strategy in football towards Women's football. Now we can exclusively reveal that US Women's club Portland Thorns will become Nike's second 'AAA' club.
Portland Thorns FC is an American professional women's soccer team based in Portland, Oregon. Established in 2012, the team plays in the then-eight-team National Women's Soccer League (US women's fist division). They won the league title twice.
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Portland Thorns To Receive Same Products As FC Barcelona
From at early 2022, Portland Thorns will be on the same level as FC Barcelona, at least on Nike's internal level. What does this mean?
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Portland Thorns will receive Nike's new templates ahead of all other teams
Portland Thorns will receive Nike's new templates ahead of all other teams while they will also get more exclusively designed products - FC Barcelona is currently the only team to wear Nike's next-generation Vaporknit template, which was launched with Barca's new 2021 training collection.
So from 2022, Portland Thorns will wear Nike's next-generation Vaporknit designs ahead of all other teams (together with FC Barcelona).
Nike Has Fundamentally Changed Its Strategy In Football
Portland Thorns' becoming Nike's second 'AAA' team follows Nike's new strategy in soccer which puts more focus on Women's football.
It remains to be seen if Portland Thorns' kits will be available to buy in Nike's globally - they are only available in the US yet.
What do you think of Portland Thorns reaching the "same" level as FC Barcelona on Nike's pyramid? Comment below.