Adidas has signed Kaleena Smith as Bradn's first NIL high school basketball player.
Adidas has signed one of its youngest female athletes to date.
The German sportswear brand announced Thursday the signing of Kalina Smith as its first high school girls basketball partner under the Name, Image and Likeness, or NIL, deal.
Smith, a 16-year-old sophomore from Ontario, Calif., is the highest-ranked student in the Class of 2027. She has already received nearly 20 college offers from programs including USC, the University of Louisville and UCLA. Connecticut, University of California, Los Angeles, Louisiana State University, and University of South Carolina.
The young basketball phenom marks Candace Parker's first signing since taking over as president of women's basketball at adidas in May. A former WNBA first-round pick, Parker played 16 seasons in the WNBA and is a three-time WNBA champion and seven-time WNBA All-Star.
Adidas tapped her to help grow the company's women's basketball business.
Kalina Smith is Candace Parker's first signing since joining Adidas in May.
“Signing Kalina as our first NIL high school women’s basketball player is a pivotal moment for us as we lead in supporting women’s sports and building greater access and representation in the game we all love,” Parker said.
Adidas said Smith will represent the brand on the field during all of her games with Ontario Christian High School, as well as the AAU team. She represents one of Adidas' youngest athletes. The brand signed its youngest current athlete, 15-year-old soccer star Chloe Ricketts, in March.
“I'm fortunate to be a part of something Candice is creating, and to do so with a brand like adidas that takes a different approach to playing a role to help grow the game for players like me,” Smith said.
The 5-foot-6 point guard was MaxPreps' National Freshman of the Year, averaging 34.9 points, 6.5 assists and 4.2 steals per game.
Smith said she is looking forward to wearing James Harden's Adidas sneakers this season.
While Smith is the first high school girl athlete to represent Adidas, the brand has signed deals with a list of women's basketball players including Chelsea Gray, Kahlia Cooper, Aliyah Boston, Aaliyah Edwards, Nneka Ogwumike, Betnija Laney Hamilton, Leshia Clarendon, Sophie. Cunningham, Erica Wheeler, Zia Cook, Alisha Clark, and Jania Parker.
Adidas has been busy in the NIL space lately.
Brand signed Miami quarterback Cam Ward to a deal last month. In August, it announced the signing of six Texas Tech athletes as part of Patrick Mahomes' NIL initiative with Adidas. The brand also signed 15 female student-athletes to NIL deals in July 2022 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Title IX.
