Under Armour athletes: A list of the most influential athletes sponsored by Under Armour

Under Armour athletes: A list of the most influential athletes sponsored by Under Armour

Ciku Njuguna
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:19 PM

Under Armour is an American sports apparel and accessories company founded in 1996. While the company is well known for its great sportswear, it is also famous for its lucrative deals with Under Armour athletes.

Under Armour brand ambassadors
Female Under Armour athletes, Alpine Ski racer Lindsey Vonn, ballet dancer Misty Copeland and Wastequip Ford driver Hailie Deegan. Photos by Meg Oliphant, Jaguar Racing and Kevin Mazur/Wire Image.
Source: Getty Images

Sports endorsement contracts are used by brands to promote their apparel using athletes who are in turn paid to represent the brand. This article takes a look at top Under Armour athletes that influential in their fields.

Which athletes are signed with Under Armour?

Some of the incredible athletes under the Under Armour umbrella include Lindsey Vonn, Bobby Zamora, Tom Brady and Michael Phelps. In the NBA, Philadelphia 76ers centre, Joel Embiid is sponsored by Under Armour, Here is a list of the ten Under Armour-sponsored athletes in 2022.

10. Mick Schumacher

Contrary to recent rumours, German Formula One driver, Mick Schumacher is still racing. Mick signed an endorsement deal with UA in 2019 while racing in Formula 2 with Prema Racing. He has raced with Haas Formula 1 team for the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

Who are Under Armour's biggest athletes?
Haas Formula 1 driver Mick Schumacher, walks into the pit lane ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in August 2022, in Spa, Belgium. Photo by Mark Thompson.
Source: Getty Images

Mick is the only Formula One driver endorsed by UA. Through his endorsement of American sports apparel, he has been able to release his clothing and merchandise using the 'My Way Through' campaign.

9. Lindsey Vonn

Lindsey Vonn is a four-time World Cup ski race winner for the US Ski Team. Lindsey is a 2010 Olympic gold medallist and holds the record for most World Cup wins by a woman.

What is Lindsey Vonn doing now? Although she retired from her competitive skiing career, she continues to partner with UA as the first face and ambassador of Under Armour’s 'Project Rock brand,' a collection designed for athletes to continue pushing themselves in the gym and at home when they are or are not competing.

8. Trent Alexander-Arnold

Trent Alexander-Arnold has made a name for himself in the football world thanks to his immense contribution to the sport on and off the pitch. He is one of the few football players currently endorsed by UA.

In 2019, he signed a 4-year extension deal with Under Armour worth over $7.8m. Trent Alexander-Arnold's Under Armour boots sponsorship with the US sportswear brand ranks second in the England squad in terms of boot sponsorship value.

7. Jordan Spieth

Jordan Spieth is ranked 14th in the official World Golf Rankings. His first major win came in the 2015 Masters Tournament, where he competed with golfing greats like Tiger Woods, Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler.

Which golfers wear Under Armour? Jordan Spieth signed a 10-year deal with Under Armour in 2013 and recently penned a six-year extension deal with the sportswear brand. His deal ranks as the fifth-highest in men’s golf, with an endorsement portfolio worth $29.6 million.

Who is on the Under Armour brand ambassador list?
Jordan Spieth plays a shot at the 150th Open at St. Andrew's Old Course in July 2022, in St Andrews, Scotland. Photo by Oisin Keniry/R&A.
Source: Getty Images

6. Kelley O'Hara

Kelley O'Hara has twice won the FIFA Women’s World Cup. In addition, Kelley won a gold medal for the United States at the 2012 Olympics. She has established herself as one of the best female wing-backs in the world.

Although not much is known about her endorsement deal with UA, she was the female face of Under Armour's 'I Will What I Want,' campaign in 2014. The campaign's aim was to celebrate the inner and outer strength of women and highlights the brand's commitment to designing elevated products for athletic females.

5. Joel Embiid

One of the best NBA Under Armour athletes is Cameroonian basketball player, Joel Embiid. He signed a five-year footwear and apparel endorsement deal with UA in 2018.

What NBA players are signed with Under Armour?
Philadelphia 76ers centre, Joel Embiid and his Under Armour shoes are pictured at the 76ers Training Complex in September 2022, in Camden, New Jersey. Photo by Tim Nwachukwu.
Source: Getty Images

Which basketball players have Under Armour sneakers? Joel Embiid is one of the few NBA athletes who have apparel named after them, the Embiid One. As part of his contract with UA, the sports apparel partners with Embiid on charitable initiatives in and around Philadelphia and Cameroon.

4. Anthony Joshua

Professional British heavyweight fighter, Anthony Joshua, has had immense success in the boxing ring, fighting a total of 27 fights with only 3 losses. As part of his contract with UA, he receives his in-ring attire and training gear and lends his image to Under Armour for advertising.

It is rumoured that Anthony made $10.3 million through endorsement deals with brands such as Beats and Hugo Boss. His deal with UA is rumoured to be worth $9.8 million.

3. Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps is the most-decorated athlete in Olympic history, with 28 medals. Phelps won a record 23 gold and became the first athlete to win eight gold medals at a single Olympics.

Is Michael Phelps still sponsored by Under Armour?
Michael Phelps instructs a public training session as an Under Armour Ambassador at The Rosedal in December 2017 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Photo by Fotonoticias MDB.
Source: Getty Images

Although the exact size of the deal has not been disclosed, it is rumoured that Phelps earned $5 million from the endorsement. Part of the collaboration with UA, saw Michael Phelps appear in the 'Rule Yourself' ad campaign. The aim of the advert was to raise awareness of the dedication, hardships and mental battles Phelps faced in and out of the pool.

2. Stephen Curry

Stephen Curry is regarded as one of the best 3-point shooters in NBA history. The Under Armour basketball athlete landed the signature shoe deal and merchandising deal in 2013. In 2015, the company went on to release its first sneaker with him, the Under Armour Curry 1.

There have been speculations that Steph is on the verge of signing a $1 billion deal with UA. If the rumour is true, he is set to become the first lifetime Under Armour athlete. Curry is the highest-paid Under Armour athlete, as he earns approximately $20 million a year.

1. Tom Brady

Tom Brady, regarded as the G.O.A.T. of the NFL of all time, is the most successful player in the world, having won 5 Super Bowl rings, 12 Pro Bowls, and 2 league MVPs. Tom Brady is part of the Under Armour athletes in American football.

How much does Under Armour pay Brady? As the face of Under Armour, it is estimated that he earns approximately $10-15 million per year. As part of the deal, Tom Brady got a stake in the company.

Top female Under Armour athletes

The American sports apparel brand that is best known for its performance gear, has ventured into different sports such as track and field, motorsport and ballerina. As part of its endorsements, the company continues to endorse top female athletes from different sporting backgrounds. Here is a list of the top 10 female athletes who are endorsed by the Under Armour franchise.

Is Misty Copeland with Under Armour?
Ballet dancer Misty Copeland performs during the BET Black Girls Rock show at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in October 2013 in Newark, New Jersey. Photo by Brad Barket/BET.
Source: Getty Images

Sport

Player

Alpine ski racing

Lindsey Vonn

Taekwondo, stunt woman, pole vault, gymnastics

Jessie Graff

Taekwondo

Zoe Zhang

Soccer

Kelley O'Hara

Track and field

Natasha Hastings

Running

Alison Mariella Désir

Ballet

Misty Copeland

Basketball

Bella Alarie

Golf

Alison Lee

Motor cross

Hailie Deegan

Can Under Armour athletes wear Jordans?

Over the years, some Under Armour athletes have been seen wearing other shoe brands. In one instance, MLB star, Bryce Harper, was seen wearing a rare set of Jordan shoes at Minute Maid Park. However, Under Armour athletes in the NBA are not allowed to wear Jordans in public as they would be endorsing a competitor's merchandise.

As of 2022, Under Armour is one of the two best sports brands in terms of sales in the US. Its market share continues to grow thanks to its endorsement deals with well-known athletes who continue to promote the brand.

READ ALSO: Adidas athletes: A list of the most influential athletes sponsored by Adidas

Sportsbrief has published an article about the most influential athletes sponsored by Adidas. Adidas is home to some of the most talented sportsmen and women in the world.

Adidas partners with some of the best athletes in sports, such as Lionel Messi and Damian Lillard. These endorsement deals have enabled the giant sportswear company to thrive for a long time.

Authors
Ciku Njuguna photo
Ciku Njuguna
Ciku Njuguna is a journalist with 3 year’s experience in content creation based in Kenya. She currently covers sports personnel as well as team biographies.