7 Female Athletes Changing the Brand Ambassador Game
From gold medals to global campaigns, meet the sport brand ambassadors pushing boundaries both in competition and in culture.
Think sport is just about medals and match stats? Think again. Today’s top female athletes are doing far more than breaking records — they’re fronting major campaigns, rewriting the playbook for what it means to be a modern sports star and using their platforms to push for everything from mental health awareness to equal pay. Whether it’s tennis prodigy Coco Gauff, WNBA force Angel Reese or a track star Keely Hodgkinson, these women aren’t just at the top of their game — they’re shaping the culture around it. Partnering with the likes of Nike, adidas, PUMA and FILA, they’re stepping onto podiums, and into campaigns with the same fearless energy. This is your guide to the female athletes everyone’s talking about — and why their sports brand partnerships matter.
Scroll on to discover the women redefining what it means to lead in sport.
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Suni Lee for HOKA
From Saint Paul, Minnesota, 21-year-old Suni Lee has taken the world by storm with her extraordinary talent and unwavering resilience. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, she made history as the first Asian American woman to win the all-around gold, while also earning a team silver and uneven bars bronze. As a HOKA brand ambassador, Lee reflects the brand’s focus on resilience and drive. After being diagnosed with kidney disease, she made the tough decision to pause her collegiate career and focus fully on recovery — showing the same discipline and determination that define her performances. Now based in New York, she’s exploring fashion while continuing to inspire as a symbol of strength and perseverance.
Angel Reese for Reebok
Where do we start with Angel Reese? The 23-year-old basketball powerhouse from Maryland made history by leading Louisianna State University to its first National Collegiate Athletic Association women’S basketball title in 2023, picking up “Most Outstanding Player” along the way. Her rookie WNBA season with the Chicago Sky was equally headline-worthy — she broke the league’s single-season rebounding record and became the first rookie to post a double-double in the All-Star Game, before a wrist injury brought things to a pause. Off the court, she’s become the face of Reebok‘s basketball revival, signing a major deal with the brand in late 2023 — the two even dropped a Spring/Summer 2025 collection last month. Besides sports and Reebok, her financial literacy initiative, Angel C. Reese Foundation fosters equality for girls and underrepresented groups.
Lulu Sun for FILA
Lulu Sun, the 23-year-old rising tennis star, is bringing a fearless edge to the global stage. Born in New Zealand and raised in Geneva by a Chinese mother and Croatian father, she switched allegiance to New Zealand in 2024 — becoming the country’s top-ranked female player. Her breakout moment came at Wimbledon the same year, where she stormed into the quarterfinals, defeating top seeds including Emma Raducanu. Known for her aggressive, all-court game and inspired by greats like Steffi Graf, Sun was named WTA “Newcomer of the Year” and reached a career-high ranking of No. 39. Beyond tennis, she’s a FILA ambassador, blending her passion for individuality, art and internationalism with her athletic career.
Keely Hodgkinson for Nike
The pattern is clear — all these athletes are young, ambitious and making big moves. Following suit is Keely Hodgkinson — 23 and from Greater Manchester, Hodgkinson took home silver in the 800m at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and last year, struck gold at the Paris 2024 Games, becoming the first British woman since Jessica Ennis-Hill to secure an Olympic track title. Her personal best of 1:54.61 places her among the fastest women in history over the distance. As a Nike ambassador since 2019, she has collaborated with the brand on various initiatives. Notably, she participated in the launch campaign for the brand’s Vomero 18 running shoe.
Skylar Diggins for PUMA
Skylar Diggins, hailing from South Bend, Indiana, is a six-time WNBA All-Star and dynamic guard for the Phoenix Mercury who has played a major role in PUMA’s basketball comeback since signing with the brand in 2017. Beyond her skills on the court, she’s a passionate advocate for women’s empowerment, leading PUMA’s “She Moves Us” campaign to inspire and uplift women in sports and beyond. When we spoke to her earlier this year, she announced her participation in the inaugural season of Unrivaled — a new women’s basketball league founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, supporting players holistically, especially helping mothers balance career and family; a cause close to Diggins’ heart as a mother of two.
Coco Gauff for New Balance
Tennis prodigy Coco Gauff, captured global attention by beating Venus Williams in her opening debut of her first grand slam match at Wimbledon at just 15. Now at 21, she’s become the youngest American to win the U.S. Open women’s singles title since Serena Williams in 1999. Off the court, Gauff is a passionate advocate for social justice and female equality, using her platform to speak out on racial discrimination. In 2024, she was honored as Team USA’s female flag-beaker at the Paris Olympics. Besides sports, she’s proven to be a big hit in fashion, recently teaming up with New Balance and Miu Miu to blend sports performance with high fashion, launching a collection featuring her signature CG2 shoe.
Anna Hall for adidas
Hailing from Colorado, 24-year-old Anna Hall is a standout heptathlete whose mix of grit, talent and joy has made her one of the sport’s brightest stars. She’s already won silver at the 2023 World Championships, bronze in 2022 and holds the North American record in the indoor pentathlon. After a foot injury kept her from competing in Tokyo 2020, she bounced back with a top-five finish at Paris 2024. A two-time NCAA champion with the University of Florida, Hall went pro in 2022 and signed with adidas, becoming a key ambassador for the brand, advocating for mental health and body confidence, reflecting adidas’ commitment to supporting athletes on and off the track.
