Nike and RAJ Sports Partner to Advance the Future of Women’s Sport

What is the partnership? The partnership between Nike and the RAJ Sports group advances the next era of women’s sport, supporting the Portland Thorns and Portland Fire through innovation, performance and community impact.

How will the partnership support performance? A key focus of the partnership is supporting the development of a women-specific high‑performance training facility in the Portland area that’s intentionally designed around the needs of women athletes.

How will the partnership support young athletes? Nike and RAJ Sports will collaborate on community programming that brings young people, especially girls, closer to women’s sport. Planned initiatives include youth clinics, camps and product support designed to reduce barriers to sport.

Nike and the RAJ Sports group are announcing a partnership focused on advancing the next era of women’s sport, supporting the Portland Thorns and Portland Fire through innovation, performance and community impact. The announcement comes during Epicenter Week, where Nike serves as presenting partner, underscoring the depth of the two organizations' shared commitment to the future of women's sport.

Built around a shared athlete‑first approach and a commitment to growing women’s sport, the partnership brings together Nike’s sport innovation and performance expertise with RAJ Sports’ long‑term vision for building and sustaining women’s teams. Through the partnership, Nike will help equip and enhance athlete training environments while supporting holistic, year‑round development that extends beyond competition and expands opportunity for the next generation.

“We believe athletes lead the way, and women athletes are showing the world what’s possible,” says Ann Miller, EVP, Global Sports Marketing. “RAJ Sports is building something special for women’s sport. This partnership is about showing up in meaningful ways for athletes, teams and the community, and helping raise the bar for the industry overall.”

A key focus of the partnership is supporting the development of a women‑specific high‑performance training facility that’s intentionally designed around the needs of women athletes. Nike will contribute product, performance insight and environment design to help create a space that supports holistic athlete development across training, recovery and preparation.

Beyond performance, the partnership prioritizes access and opportunity for youth, especially girls, in Portland. Nike and RAJ Sports will collaborate on community programming that brings young people closer to women’s sport through participation, visibility and mentorship. Planned initiatives include youth clinics, camps and product support designed to reduce barriers to sport.

The partnership includes a commitment through Nike Social & Community Impact as part of Nike’s vision to create the future of youth sport in Portland. Efforts with RAJ Sports will focus on expanding youth access, supporting youth sport programming with trained coaches who represent the kids they serve and shifting perception about what sport looks like for all kids — especially girls, so they know sport is for them.

Nike will be presenting sponsor of Epicenter Week, August 19 to 23, 2026, a multi-day gathering in Portland dedicated to advancing women's sports through leadership, innovation and community. The week is anchored by the invitation-only Epicenter: Women's Global Sports Summit at Philip H. Knight Campus, where this announcement is being made, and brings together senior executives, athletes and investors alongside professional games, public events and community programming.

“Nike's presence throughout Epicenter Week, and now as a partner to RAJ Sports, is a signal to the entire industry that Portland is where the future of women's sport is being written,” says Lisa Bhathal Merage, Governor of the Portland Thorns and Portland Fire and Managing Partner of RAJ Sports. “Together, we're bringing the most influential leaders, ideas and movements in the game to one place, and showing the world what's possible when you invest in women's sport with intention.”

Nike and RAJ Sports will explore thoughtful cross-platform opportunities connecting the Portland Thorns, Portland Fire and Nike to amplify stories that celebrate women athletes and the future of the game while staying authentic to each team and community.

As women’s sport continues to grow, this partnership represents a shared commitment to lead with purpose, invest for the long term and help create a future where women athletes are supported at every level.

Originally published by Nike.