December 17, 2024 -- DENVER
XX-XY Athletics today announces GXME CHXNGERs, the first-ever NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) program for student athletes speaking up for women’s sports!
While some athletic brands believe winning is everything, we define winning differently.
That’s why we recognize and partner with female athletes who are true game changers, not just on the court, but off of it.
We are building a team of women who are outstanding athletes, but also outstanding people. Young women who demonstrate courage and character. Women with the steel to stand up and say - and do - the hard thing, not the popular thing, because their coaches, administrators and lawmakers will not.
These female athletes know sports are not the end game, but the training game for life. “Now we have a NIL program to reward athletes and bring back the thrill and passion of sports for women,” said Jennifer Sey, XX-XY Athletics founder and CEO.“Because greatness isn’t measured merely in goals, spikes and baskets, but also by the impact female athletes have on the culture and the millions of girls who will follow behind them. I may have been the U.S. national champion, but I consider my greatest contribution to sport is exposing the abuse in gymnastics.”
While the growth in women’s sports grows at the fastest rate ever, athlete advocacy is still fresh at the collegiate level. Many current and elite athletes are fed up with brands that fail to support them. So, the first athletic brand to stand up for women started an NIL program to back their advocacy for XX-only sports and athletic achievements to change the game for good.
We're thrilled to welcome our first SEVEN trailblazing athletes who have signed on to champion women athletes:
Macey Boggs (maceyboggs) -- Volleyball, University of Wyoming
Boggs and a dozen women representing five Mountain West Conference volleyball teams worked with ICONS to file a lawsuit against the Mountain West Conference for violations of Title IX and of their First Amendment rights. Boggs and her teammates forfeited a match against San Jose State (SJSU) after learning of the opposing team’s secret rostering of a male athlete.
“I am so excited to partner with XX-XY Athletics in saving women’s sports,” said Boggs.“This fight is far from over. I am pumped to stand with the brand in boldness and in truth.”
Sia Liilii(s.yeaah) -- Volleyball, University of Nevada, Reno
Without consulting the members of the Nevada, Reno Team, and motivated by the Mountain West Conference administration at Nevada, Reno issued a public announcement stating that the Nevada, Reno Team would play SJSU in their women’s volleyball match scheduled for October 26, 2024. But that was not ok with Sia Liilii and her team members, who did not want to play the SJSU team because they wanted to protest that a male athlete was taking the place of a women. They also did not want to play the match because of their safety concerns with playing against the male bodied athlete, whom they recognized had a combination of power, explosiveness, and leaping ability that no other player in the conference had. So Sia and her team spoke up, and stood down by forfeiting a match against SJSU, overriding their administrators’ admonishments that they need to be “educated.” And a crowd of 450 people showed up to cheer them on.
Ainsley Erzen (ainsley_erzen) -- Soccer Track, University of Arkansas
Erzen is a junior soccer and track athlete for the University of Arkansas and a member of the lawsuit against the NCAA alongside Riley Gaines and ICONS.
“I'm extremely blessed to join XX-XY Athletics as they lead the fight against individuals, organizations, and policies that justify robbing women of such fundamental rights as privacy and safety within their own sports,” said Erzen. “In a world where the truth has been so deeply twisted, it's an honor to be part of such a bold and courageous group of people who never stray from their pursuit of what is right. As a collegiate female athlete, thank you XX-XY Athletics for being the only athletic brand to stand up for women's sports. This is a fight for women today, and all those to come, and we will not be ignored.”
Brooke Slusser(brookeslusser04)– Volleyball, San Jose State Spartans
The starting setter and co-captain of SJSU's women’s volleyball team is standing up for women’s sports by taking legal action against the NCAA and the Mountain West Conference for Title IX violations after it was revealed that her teammate is a male… a detail hidden by the school for almost two years. Slusser was a pivotal player in calling attention to the secrecy surrounding the decision and was rewarded by her coaches and players conspiring to allow another player to “blast” Slusser in the face. She joined the lawsuit against the Mountain West Conference and has been a powerful, active and thoughtful voice calling attention to the leadership’s policies and decisions to prioritize the male athlete over the team’s fairness and safety.
“I could not be more honored and so excited to work with the XX-XY Athletics Brand,” said Slusser.
Also joining the program are:
- Heather Arnett (_heatherarnett) -- Softball, Pittsburg State University
- Sara Casebolt (_sara.joyce_) -- Track, University of Idaho
- Emma Vorpagel (emma.vorpagel) -- Track, Northern Illinois University
The brand is partnering with these athletes to drive brand awareness and will share their stories of leadership to help them promote change, as well as featuring them in product shoots and inviting them to test and provide input on new product development.
Follow them and stay tuned for their inspiring journeys to create lasting change for women athletes and join us in celebrating the rise of women's sports! 💪✨ #SaveWomensSports #TheTruthFits
XX-XY Athletics knows that brands play a key role in influencing a culture, and a brand that supports girls and women athletes has been missing in our culture for too long. By normalizing the protection of women’s sports and offering support to athletes who speak out, athletes who stand up will not stand alone. The brand also devotes a portion of proceeds to the XX-XY Athletics Fund to help athletes counter cancellation effects in partnership with other women’s rights organizations.
Learn more: https://www.xx-xyathletics.com/
Contact:
Press@xx-xyathletics.com
December 20, 2024
