Mastercard announced Tuesday that they have reached a multi-year partnership with the NWSL Players Association. The deal comes after Mastercard partnered with the NWSL last year in an exclusive partnership.
The deal was announced on the first day of the Sports Integrity Global Alliance Summit on Female Leadership in Sport.
“We strive to ensure that women have a seat at every table,” said Raja Rajamannar, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer of Mastercard. “Gender equality is an issue that demands action and our alliance with the Players Association advances that pledge. We’re proud to deepen our support of women’s soccer and are looking forward to an outstanding season for these passionate, emboldened players and the growing fan base.”
The partnership is meant to “provide the players with additional resources and tools, designed to empower them as momentum continues for women’s sports.”
“Our combined values and intention to elevating women in sport couldn’t be more aligned,” said Meghann Burke, executive director of the NWSLPA. “Mastercard’s impactful support helps accelerate the vitalization of our players and the magnification of the league as we broaden the appeal of women’s soccer.”
The partnership comes after the NWSLPA successfully ratified the league’s first-ever collective bargaining agreement ahead of the start of the 2022 season. The league also named Jessica Berman as its next commissioner on Wednesday.
The NWSL Challenge Cup kicks off on March 18.