New national media agreement, sponsorships signify Ally's
intentional expansion into the WNBA, mark a milestone on its quest
for media equity
CHARLOTTE, N.C. and LAS VEGAS, March 5,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ally Financial Inc. (NYSE:
ALLY), a leading brand in women's sports, and the Las Vegas Aces,
the reigning back-to-back WNBA Champions, today announced a new
multi-year, multi-million-dollar deal. Among the terms of the
agreement, Ally becomes the first-ever official retail banking
partner of the Aces.
Additionally, a new national media deal that encompasses WNBA
games will help move Ally closer to its goal to reach equal
spending in paid media across men's and women's sports. Ally
intends to be close to 50/50 by the end of 2024, but there's still
work to be done.
"We've been interested in entering the WNBA for years because
it's one of the most popular women's sports leagues in the country,
and it's imperative to Ally reaching our 50/50 goal," said
Andrea Brimmer, chief marketing and
PR officer at Ally. "We aren't going to sponsor just any team. The
Aces are the best team in the league, drawing national attention
and major respect from basketball fans worldwide, and together we
have many shared values. They're the perfect addition to our
growing sports portfolio."
The Las Vegas Aces are leaders within the sport, known for
providing its employees and players with the best resources in the
league, including a first-of-its-kind practice facility. Owner
Mark Davis also set a high bar when
he hired Becky Hammon, who has led
the Aces to back-to-back WNBA titles in her first two seasons as
head coach.
"We are thrilled to partner with Ally Financial—a like-minded
brand that aligns so significantly with the Las Vegas Aces' culture
and values," said Aces president Nikki
Fargas. "Their dedication to making strategic decisions and
efforts to support the continued growth of women's sports is
unmatched in the industry, and we can't wait to see where this
partnership ultimately leads for not just our franchise, but the
Las Vegas community."
Ally is now the official jersey patch sponsor of the Aces
and will appear on the front shoulder of all Aces game jerseys and
the mascot, BUCKET$ jersey. Aces fans can expect exciting
engagements with Ally this season, from sweepstakes to
theme-nights. Ally will also work with the Aces on several
community outreach initiatives.
Ally also introduced the two newest members of Team Ally, the
company's unique brand ambassador program built to make women's
sports hard to miss – Aces players Alysha
Clark and Sydney Colson.
Clark and Colson will join Lilia
Vu (Ally signed the World's No. 1 golfer in Jan.) and the
rest of Ally's brand ambassadors who are part of this unique
program to work with Ally to push for progress, increasing demand
for women's sports, increasing year-round fan engagement, and
creating social currency. Team Ally also advises from a
player-perspective on how Ally can create the biggest impact with
its investments in women's sports.
About Ally Financial
Ally Financial Inc. (NYSE: ALLY) is a financial services company
with the nation's largest all-digital bank and an industry-leading
auto financing business, driven by a mission to "Do It Right" and
be a relentless ally for customers and communities. The company
serves approximately 11 million customers through a full range of
online banking services (including deposits, mortgage, and credit
card products) and securities brokerage and investment advisory
services. The company also includes a robust corporate finance
business that offers capital for equity sponsors and middle-market
companies, as well as auto financing and insurance offerings. For
more information, please visit www.ally.com.
For more information and disclosures about Ally, visit
https://www.ally.com/#disclosures.
For further images and news on Ally, please visit
http://media.ally.com.
About the Las Vegas Aces
One of the WNBA's original franchises, the Las Vegas Aces trace
their lineage to the Beehive State where they began life as the
Utah Starzz. They relocated to San
Antonio in 2003, before moving to the Sports &
Entertainment Capital of the World prior to the 2018 season. Las
Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis
purchased the team in 2021, and Aces fans were rewarded with
back-to-back WNBA Championships in 2022 and 2023. The 2022 title
team also became the first major professional sports franchise to
bring a championship to the state of Nevada.
After becoming the first WNBA team in more than two decades to
repeat as champions a year ago, the 2024 season brings with it the
opportunity for an even rarer three-peat. That effort is being led
by the franchise's core four of two-time M'VP A'ja Wilson;
three-time WNBA champion Chelsea
Gray; and two-time title winners Kelsey Plum and Jackie
Young. At the helm is 2022 WNBA Coach of the Year Becky
Hammon—one of the most decorated players in league history, and one
of only two head coaches to win championships in their first two
seasons.
In addition to the Aces success on the court, they have been
equally successful off of it. In March of 2022 the team moved into
a 50,000 square foot headquarters—the first complex built solely
for use by a WNBA team. Heading into the 2024 season, Las Vegas is on pace to become the first team
in the history of the league to sell out all of its regular season
games.
Contacts:
Justin Nicolette, Ally
Financial
justin.nicolette@ally.com
John Maxwell, Las Vegas Aces
jmaxwell@lasvegasaces.com
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SOURCE Ally Financial