Kim Kardashian’s shapewear brand SKIMS has teamed up with the WNBA – as basketball stars Candace Parker, Cameron Brink, and Kelsey Plum stripped down to their underwear for a sultry new ad, just months after the company was slammed for not including women sports stars in another campaign.
SKIMS announced on Monday morning that it had become the ‘official underwear partner’ of the Women’s National Basketball Association ‘just in time for the season tip off.’
To celebrate the launch of the collaboration, a slew of basketball players showed off their toned physiques by posing in pieces from the clothing company’s Fits Everybody underwear collection.
The athletes all donned strapless bandeaus in various shades, which they paired with matching undies, leaving their washboard abs on full display.
Three-time WNBA champion Candace, 38 – who played 13 seasons with the Los Angeles Sparks, two seasons with the Chicago Sky, and one season with the Las Vegas Aces before recently announcing her retirement – said she was ‘thrilled’ to be included in the campaign with such an ‘amazing group of rising stars and all-stars.’
‘As I move onto this next chapter in my life, I hope to leave the game in a better place and continue to be an example of what is possible both on and off the court,’ she added.
In addition, Los Angeles Sparks rookie Cameron, 22, called it a ‘dream come true’ to work with a ‘brand that she loves so much.’
‘My fans know how much I love fashion. SKIMS has been an underwear staple in my wardrobe for years,’ she gushed.
‘I’m really grateful to be included in this lineup of players, especially with the greats who I have looked up to for so long.’
As for Olympic Gold medalist Kelsey, 29, who plays for the Las Vegas Aces and won back-to-back WNBA championships in 2022 and 2023, she praised the brand’s ‘comfortable’ material.
‘I’m so excited to represent SKIMS alongside such talented women,’ she said.
‘I love that SKIMS Fits Everybody is comfortable, without compromising on style.’
Dijonai Carrington and Skylar Diggins-Smith also joined the ladies in the campaign.
Connecticut Sun guard Dijonai, 26, said that she was ‘obsessed with SKIMS for everyday wear,’ adding, ‘From post-game to travel days and beyond, SKIMS is the perfect brand for me.’
Skylar, 33, who took a hiatus from basketball in 2020 but recently signed with Seattle Storm and is now gearing up to return to the court, added that SKIMS’ ‘seamless, stretchy, and stylish’ underwear was perfect for ‘every facet of her life.’
‘Our brand DNA is rooted in inclusivity, representation and women’s empowerment, which are values shared with the WNBA,’ creator Kim, 43, said in a statement.
‘We are honored to be the Official Underwear Partner of the league and look forward to continuing our work together throughout the season.’
An ad for the collaboration shows a compilation of clips of the women both on and off the court.
It cuts from some of their greatest basketball moments to them posing in the SKIMS underwear.
Back in March, SKIMS faced backlash after it released an ad for SKIMS for Men, which featured six male college basketball stars.
Fans were quick to slam Kim and her brand for not showcasing female athletes, especially because it was released during Women’s History Month.
‘OK Kimmy we love but where is the women’s collegiate basketball team campaign sister?’ one social media user quipped.
Someone else asked: ‘What about the women’s players? Why couldn’t this have elevated women in a space where they have routinely been left behind for the men until literally a few years ago?’
‘Where are the women?’ another person commented, while a fourth said, ‘Kim love you but I hope you did a SKIMS partnership with the women’s college basketball players too.’
