Nike Athlete Think Tank Announces Third Cohort, Expands Collective to Include Elite Coaches

June 06, 2024

Nike's Athlete Think Tank that includes athletes Alex Morgan, Alice Dearing, Kiki Rice, Laurie Hernandez, Nelly Korda, Oksana Masters, Romane Dicko, Sky Brown, Tunde Oyeneyin and Yulimar Rojas, as well as coaches Emma Hayes, Jenny Lang Ping, Dawn Staley and Diljeet Taylor.

What to know

Now in its third year, Nike’s Athlete Think Tank has expanded to add 10 women athletes and four elite women coaches to its collective.
Athlete Think Tank reflects Nike’s commitment to redefining the model of athlete partnership and listening to the voices of women across the highest levels of sport.
Through Athlete Think Tank, Nike is continuing to drive positive change through sport by investing in the communities and organizations that matter to athletes. This year, Nike will donate $1.7 million to organizations chosen by Athlete Think Tank members.

Central to Nike’s values is a longstanding commitment to listening to the voice of the athlete. For the past three years, Nike has underscored that commitment by gathering and learning from elite women athletes from across the globe as part of its Athlete Think Tank.

Now, for the first time, the latest Athlete Think Tank cohort also includes coaches from across the highest levels of sport. The addition of coaches reflects a key insight from prior Athlete Think Tank cohorts: that to champion athletes, you must also champion coaches, listen to their ideas and meet their unique needs.

The third Athlete Think Tank cohort includes athletes Alex Morgan, Alice Dearing, Kiki Rice, Laurie Hernandez, Nelly Korda, Oksana Masters, Romane Dicko, Sky Brown, Tunde Oyeneyin and Yulimar Rojas, as well as coaches Emma Hayes, Jenny Lang Ping, Dawn Staley and Diljeet Taylor.

“Alongside incredible athletes, the third Athlete Think Tank cohort includes some of the greatest coaches of our time,” says Tanya Hvizdak, Vice President, Nike Global Women’s Sports Marketing. “Creating positive change through sport is done through listening to the voice of the athlete and listening to coaches. I’m excited about the ideas and perspectives they bring and how we can partner to turn those into action.”

Together, over the past three years, Athlete Think Tank’s athletes and coaches have gathered to share their insights, thoughts and vision for a more equitable future of sport. This relationship continues to help Nike redefine the model of athlete partnership as a two-way commitment that champions candor, deep listening and collaborative problem-solving. It’s also resulted in new Nike product offerings, services for athletes and support for community organizations that reflect athletes’ passions.

To help break barriers to access and achievement, Nike is continuing to invest in the community organizations that matter to Athlete Think Tank. This year, the brand will donate $1.7 million to nonprofits chosen by members of the collective.

Funds are being allocated to organizations such as Social Impact Fund, Central Carolina Community Foundation, Make Life Skate Life and Charities Aid Foundation America to help create positive change through sport. Since Athlete Think Tank’s inception, Nike has invested a total of $4.4 million to community organizations on the program’s behalf.

“Nike’s investment in community and commitment to listening to women athletes signals the depth of the brand’s support for members of the collective as well as women and girls across all levels of sport," says Emma Hayes, U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team coach and a member of the third Athlete Think Tank cohort. “We have an environment where we can change things that are going to make a difference for future generations of athletes and coaches. It’s extremely inspiring and empowering.”

Athlete Think Tank will continue its momentum with the formation of a fourth cohort of athletes and coaches later this year.

Nike Athlete Think Tank Announces Third Cohort, Expands Collective to Include Elite Coaches

Assets

Athlete Think Tank members pose for a photo during a summit in Laguna Beach, Calif. Pictured clockwise from top left are Diljeet Taylor, Romane Dicko, Jenny Lang Ping, Yulimar Rojas, Sky Brown, Emma Hayes and Alice Dearing.

Romane Dicko, a judoka and member of Athlete Think Tank’s third cohort, is pictured at an ATT summit in Australia.

Emma Hayes, U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team coach and a member of the third Athlete Think Tank cohort, is pictured at an ATT summit in Australia.

Alice Dearing and Romane Dicko, members of Athlete Think Tank’s third cohort, are pictured at an ATT summit in Australia.

Alex Morgan and Emma Hayes, both members of Athlete Think Tank’s third cohort, are pictured at an ATT summit in New York City.

Romane Dicko and Diljeet Taylor, both members of Athlete Think Tank’s third cohort, are pictured at an ATT summit in Laguna Beach, Calif.

Tunde Oyeneyin and Oksana Masters, both members of Athlete Think Tank’s third cohort, are pictured at an ATT summit in Australia.

Coaches Jenny Lang Ping, Diljeet Taylor, Dawn Staley and Emma Hayes, all members of Athlete Think Tank’s third cohort, are pictured at an ATT summit in New York City

Jenny Lang Ping and Angela Manuel-Davis, both Athlete Think Tank members, are pictured at an ATT summit in Laguna Beach, Calif.

Members of the third Athlete Think Tank cohort Oksana Masters, Romane Dicko, Laurie Hernandez, Kiki Rice, Emma Hayes, Diljeet Taylor and Yulimar Rojas are pictured from left at an ATT summit in New York City. A Nike employee stands third from left.