Women's football is back, and the landscape has shifted. A summer of surprises has rewritten expectations, setting the stage for one of the most exciting and competitive seasons yet.
As anticipation builds, WSL Football and Nike today unveil the new official match balls for the 2026/27 season, marking the next chapter in a multi-year partnership designed to support athletes across the Barclays Women's Super League, Barclays Women's Super League 2 and the Subway Players Cup.
The new balls will be seen on pitch in pre-season training and make their competitive debut on 4 September. They form part of Nike's expanded role as official technical partner for WSL Football, reinforcing its commitment to elevating women's football through performance innovation, product access and increased visibility on and off the pitch.
The design pays homage to Nike's iconic T90 ball, with multi-coloured rings and graphic lines in blue, red, pink and black. The accents are designed to mimic a strobe effect when the ball is spinning in flight, while a gold Nike Swoosh features at the centre of each ball.
Created for all three of WSL Football’s competitions', the official match balls are crafted with Nike's OMNISculpt technology, featuring grooves debossed into the casing to help deliver truer flight, shot after shot. Their four-panel construction, with shorter and staggered seams, allows for a larger sweet spot and a more spherical ball shape, while All Conditions Control technology adds a grippy texture in both wet and dry conditions.
A key element of the expanded partnership is Nike's continued commitment to supporting athletes across both leagues. Building on the success of last season's programme, Nike will provide football boots and goalkeeper gloves for a second consecutive season to all players in the BWSL and BWSL2 who do not currently hold a personal endorsement deal. Across the 25/26 season, over 1,500 pairs of boots and gloves were distributed to players across both leagues.
For the 2026/27 season, the programme will expand to include Nike training packs for all uncontracted players who choose to opt in, featuring training tops, sports bras, bottoms and footwear. The initiative ensures every athlete, regardless of contract status, has access to high-performance innovation and apparel to support them both on and off the pitch, with 340 players opting to receive the packs.
The official match balls will be available at retail from the start of the season alongside a supporting apparel collection.
“AtNike,webelieveinthepowerofsporttomovetheworldforward.ThenewofficialWSLmatchballscelebratetheenergyandmomentumofwomen’sfootball,whileourexpandedpartnershipwithWSLFootballreflectsourcontinuedcommitmenttosupportingathleteswiththeinnovation,accessandvisibilitytheyneedtocompeteattheirbestandinspirethenextgeneration.”Peter Kilburn, VP/GM Nike UK & Ireland
“Nike’scommitmenttosupportingplayershasalreadymadearealdifference,withlastseason’sprovisionofbootsandglovesforuncontractedplayershavingasignificantimpact.ExpandingthatsupporttoincludetrainingpacksfortheforthcomingseasondemonstratesthestrengthofourpartnershipandNike’songoinginvestmentintothewomen’sgame.Thenewmatchballs,featuringthedistinctcolourpalettesoftheBarclaysWomen’sSuperLeagueandBarclaysWomen’sSuperLeague2,areapowerfulsymbolofhowtherefreshedWSLFootballidentityisbeingbroughttolifeinaboldandauthenticway.”Zarah Al-Kudcy, Chief Revenue Officer, WSL Football
Together, Nike and WSL Football remain committed to creating bigger moments, greater visibility and more opportunities that inspire the next generation to play, watch and believe.
