There have long been classes, combines and programs for men entering the NBA. These programs have filtered into colleges with Pro Days and with Coaches like John Calipari being bold enough to invite Instagram models to the campus to talk to athletes preparing to enter the NBA. As athletes garner NIL deals, there should be more programs available to prepare them to deal with people seeking to use those athletes. It’s rare to hear about programs which prepare women athletes for the move from being a collegiate star to a professional athlete in the WNBA. With situations like what happened with Britney Griner in Russia, it’s more important than ever for women making the jump to have access to information about professional sports.
To pave the way for young women and show them what a future in sports can look like, Under Armour and Kelsey Plum are launching the inaugural Dawg Class. Hosted at IMG Academy in April, this mentorship program will help women college athletes navigate the transition to the professional level. Inspired by Kelsey’s jersey #10, Kelsey will engage on and off the court with nine of the top women’s college basketball guards, providing the tools and insights they need to succeed as a first step to increasing equity in sports.
When Kelsey Plum signed with Under Armour I wondered how the brand would utilize one of the highest profile WNBA athletes. While this program won’t turn heads and make Under Armour more prominent in sneaker culture, it probably won’t even show up on the radar of sneaker culture sites, but it is easily one of the most important events in sport and has the ability to filter into more grassroots events with insight into the professional aspects of the game, especially as NIL becomes more prominent and the NCAA begins to target athletes and programs.