She’s the first signee since Candace Parker took over as president of Adidas women’s basketball!
16-year-old Kaleena Smith is a star athlete at Onatario Christian High School in Ontario, California. The 5-foot-6 sophomore point guard is the highest-rated recruit in the class of 2027, named National Freshman of the Year by MaxPreps and already receiving almost 20 college offers from programs including the University of California, Los Angeles, the University of Southern California, the University of Connecticut, Louisiana State University, and the University of Louisville, CNBC reports. Now, Kaleena is making history as the first high school women’s basketball player to sign a name, image, and likeness (NIL) deal with Adidas.
The new partnership makes Kaleena one of the youngest athletes to sign a deal with Adidas. She is also the first signee under Candace Parker, who took over in May as president of Adidas women’s basketball. The three-time WNBA champion and seven-time WNBA All-Star is focused on evolving the women’s basketball arm at Adidas, saying players like Kaleena are just the shake-up the brand needs.
“Signing Kaleena as our first high school NIL women’s basketball athlete is a pivotal moment for us as we lead in championing women’s sports and building greater access to and representation in the game that we all love,” said Parker.
Kaleena will represent Adidas on the court with Ontario Christian High School and with her AAU team. She said she anticipates her work with Adidas and looks forward to Parker’s leadership while working with the brand.
“I’m blessed to be part of something Candace is creating, and to get to do that with a brand like Adidas who is taking a different approach to play a role to help grow the game for players like me,” said Kaleena.
She now joins other star high school athletes making a name for themselves through NIL deals, including Maryland native Kiyomi McMiller, who made history as the first high school NIL signee under Jordan Brand last year, and Mikey Williams, who made history as the first high school basketball player to sign a sneaker deal with a global footwear brand when he inked his deal with Puma back in 2021.
Cover photo: Kaleena Smith Makes History as First High School Women’s Basketball Player to Sign NIL Deal With Adidas/Photo credit: Adidas/CNBC