When the whistle blows and the scoreboard is final, it’s not just the players who win, it’s also the brands behind them. As women’s soccer has grown in popularity over the past several decades, major companies have stepped up to sponsor top athletes. Some of the biggest names in sportswear, finance, and even technology are racing to sign the next game-changing player. In this article, we’ll explore the ten of these players and the powerhouse brands backing them.
1. Ali Riley
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No list of sponsored soccer players would be complete without Riley. Boasting an impressive 11 brand deals to her name, Riley leads all NWSL players in total endorsements. She even keeps track of her partnerships on her personal website, where major brands like Ally Financial, Klarna, and Molecule Sleep are featured among her collaborators. Riley’s growing portfolio demonstrates the wide range of industries women athletes can represent beyond the traditional realm of sportswear, highlighting how their influence extends into finance, lifestyle, and wellness.
2. Catarina Macario
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Macario signed a record-breaking deal with Nike in July 2025. With most shoe contracts typically valued in the five-figure range per year, Macario shattered the glass ceiling by securing a 10-year, $10 million endorsement deal with Nike. The switch from Adidas to Nike came with a significant salary increase. However, Nike is not the only company that has taken notice of her talent. Honey Stinger has also partnered with Macario to promote its line of energy chews, waffles, bars, and gels.
3. Sophia Smith
As a member of the Gatorade family, Smith has been sponsored by numerous companies throughout her career as a professional soccer player. With nine endorsement deals to her name, Smith’s range of partnerships is impressive. While Gatorade is a familiar name to any athlete, her sponsorships highlight the wide variety of opportunities available to athletes today. Google Pixel has also supported Smith by sharing her story of how she first fell in love with the game. A Google Pixel photograph of the Real Colorado Complex is featured on her Instagram, where she recalls that despite her two-hour daily commute, it was the place where she had the most fun and made her best memories.
4. Mallary Swanson
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With 10 active brand deals, Swanson has partnered with countless brands over the years. While Nike and Gatorade have long been part of her portfolio of endorsements, she has most recently been seen promoting Vaseline products. Expanding the range of industries she represents, Swanson also became a #DysonPartner, promoting Dyson’s line of headphones. She exemplifies how soccer players can successfully represent brands across diverse industries, from beauty to beverages to technology.
5. Alyssa Thompson
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Despite being only 20 years old, the young Chelsea player has eight active brand deals with companies across the beauty and fashion industries. Showcasing her jewelry collection from Gorjana, both Thompson and her sister Gisele Thompson have found success partnering with the brand. Beyond that, the sisters are also the faces of NYX Cosmetics. These partnerships remind viewers that athletes are more than just the people seen on the field; they are also individuals who enjoy expressing themselves and embracing fashion.
As women’s soccer continues to grow in popularity, brands are matching this momentum by investing more heavily in partnerships with players to promote their products and values. These collaborations not only elevate the athletes themselves but also help redefine how female athletes are perceived in the sports and marketing worlds. Decades ago, it would have been difficult to imagine women earning millions from endorsement deals, but the landscape is shifting rapidly. As players continue to demonstrate exceptional talent, persistence, and courage both on and off the field, they prove that women’s sports are not only deserving of equal recognition but also a powerful force driving global culture and commerce.
Image via @malpugh
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