Naomi & Yoon: Their Game to Change

LYNETTE NYLANDER How did you two first connect?

NAOMI OSAKA I always loved streetwear. When I would go to New York, I would always go to the little boutiques. There was a poster for [Yoon’s] collaboration with Nike, a fur jacket, but they weren’t selling it, so I couldn’t buy it! But I did a deep dive into her work and I’ve been a really big fan ever since then.

YOON AHN Thank you. I think for me, it has to be that moment when Naomi won her first major title in New York. That’s when I was like, ‘Oh, wait. She’s from Japan!’ I was so proud that there was someone coming out of Japan.

LYNETTE I don’t think anyone could ever forget that moment. It was just so amazing to see two women in such admiration and support of one another. And I think that’s the difference in women’s sports. Win or lose, everyone’s so in support of one another.

NAOMI Collaboration is important, because obviously, I’m a tennis player, and I play singles. So most people think I do everything by myself. But I travel with a team. And in a way, I feel like I’m collaborating with them in the sense that I’m the vehicle for all the hard work we do behind the scenes. People can’t push boundaries by themselves. You have to work with people to get farther.

YOON I approach every project as a way to learn something new, to do something I’ve never done before. Naomi and I kept coming back to our roots. Both of us are from Japan. Things we like about Japan. We found ourselves vibing soft and approachable.

LYNETTE From what I understand about tennis and what you’re allowed to wear, it’s still pretty traditional. So it must be really exciting that you can now work with designers and bring your heritage and your culture and your style to your work.

NAOMI I’ve always been the kid that’s really into fashion. I’ve always felt like tennis clothes don’t have to be so limited. It’s a very beautiful sport, and it would be cool to also wear beautiful pieces. New York always feels like a stage to me. Similar to how singers wear costumes. I almost feel like with the bright lights on you you need to wear a costume and showcase your ability.

LYNETTE Is there a different energy?

NAOMI Yeah, for me, the energy of New York always feels like showtime. Especially during the night matches. I think people just want to be entertained and they want to see good matches. In most tennis crowds, people are very quiet, but the New York crowd — you can feel the energy bouncing off of them. So it’s really fun. Last year, obviously I didn’t play but I got to watch from the stands. And it was actually really fun.

LYNETTE I think across disciplines, it feels like women in sport are finally getting the flowers that they deserve. It really shows right now. Why do you feel like culture has finally caught up with women in sports?

NAOMI That’s a tough question for me, just because I’m so infused with sport. I feel like people have just started paying attention to the WNBA. And I know Sha’Carri is really bringing a lot of attention to running. But I’ve really grown up watching sports.

YOON This progression that the world needs is long overdue, but I’m glad things are changing rapidly. More than half of the world’s population are women. Women getting the spotlight, not just in sports is necessary as many systems have been built through the male gaze. It’s exciting to see more diverse prominent personalities rising in different cultures all across the world.

NAOMI With more time, I think bigger and better things will continue to happen.

LYNETTE You both lead incredibly busy lives. Naomi, you just had a baby, and you’ve got your huge career. And Yoon you take on multiple projects in addition to Ambush and Nike. How do you stay like mentally prepared and engaged all the time? I want to know!

NAOMI I’m a very curious person, and that just leads me to so many different things in life. I don’t typically think about being busy. I feel like my curiosity is kind of getting me everywhere. My projects are things that I love to learn about. I’m obviously not a master. The only thing that I would say that I’m a master in is tennis.

YOON The way I look at it, these opportunities are given to you. It’s a chance for me to try something and learn something new, right? I’m not the type of person who likes to do the same thing over again. So when chances come I just like to dive in. I feel like a kid in a toy store. Give me all this and I’m gonna play with everything.

LYNETTE I think of you as women who are ableto color outside the lines. How would you encourage someone else to do the same in their creative practice?

NAOMI I tend to go back to just being proud of who you are. I grew up being a really shy kid —

I am still really shy. So I never used to voice my opinions or even think I was worthy enough to have an opinion. One day something clicked where I just figured that I had a voice and I wanted to use it — whether it’s using it to say what I like, what I don’t like, or to stand up for what I think is right. And I feel like that’s also part of you being you. Everyone sees things differently.

YOON I was much more of an introvert, I guess. I was trying to meet other people’s energy. I was just into spending time by myself, learning things. I spent a lot of time in the library escaping mentally, indulging in magazines and wondering what the world was out there. Because I grew up like that, whatever chances are given to me, I am just excited that I get to explore different things. Life’s too short to just sit and ponder. It’s better to do it and regret it than not do it and regret it.

Words and images from the Nike Women Zine, Volume 1.