The Golden State Valkyries and Rakuten have announced their partnership, making the cash back shopping platform a team founding partner and the official shopping rewards partner of the Valkyries.
Raktuen will be the presenting partner of the player’s walk-in “Arrivals,” making it the brand’s first space to create visibility for the player arrivals tunnel — which has become a major cultural moment within basketball.
Most notably, the “Rakuten Arrivals” will be a platform for the newly formed team players to express their sartorial style and support the brands and designers they are most passionate about. And throughout the season, Rakuten will also offer Valkyries fans exclusive merchandise and cash back opportunities throughout the season.
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Last night, the team held its first preseason game. The players made their big fashion debuts before hitting the court for the first time, with Kayla Thornton, Laeticia Amihere, Monique Billings and Tiffany Hayes showing off their style.
As the presenting sponsor of “Latest Looks,” Rakuten is offering fans the opportunity to get 10 percent cash back when they buy the Valkyries team gear every game on Rakuten, both in-store and online. Later in the season, Rakuten and Valkyries are set to launch an inaugural gift with purchase program for fans to receive exclusive Valkyries merchandise created by Wild Collective.
“The energy our fans have brought from Day One has been incredible, and partnering with Rakuten lets us give them the access and experiences they deserve,” said Jess Smith, president of Golden State Valkyries. “Our players bring so much personality and style to the game, and now fans will get to experience that up close through ‘Rakuten Arrivals.’ This partnership celebrates what makes the WNBA special — incredible athletes who bring their authentic selves both on and off the court.”
Moreover, the Rakuten partnership with the WNBA team will go beyond game day with a community-based platform called “Ascending Stars” to help early-career women in the Bay Area with leadership development and career advancement resources and a career development summit at the Chase Center. Every month, two program participants will be highlighted on the Valkyries social media platforms.
“‘Rakuten Arrivals’ embodies the values we share with the Valkyries — strength, boldness and a commitment to building a more inclusive future,” said Amit Patel, chief executive officer of Rakuten International. “Fashion and self-expression are powerful ways for fans to connect with the players they admire. Through this partnership, we’re proud to elevate those moments while also offering fans a rewarding way to engage — with cash back when they shop the players’ looks.”
Rakuten joins the growing list of Valkyries’ big-name founding partners and sponsors, including JPMorgan Chase, Sephora and United Airlines.
In another Rakuten news, the company is also hosting its Big Give Week promotion from Wednesday until Monday with hundreds of retailers in all categories, such as fashion, beauty, travel and other general spending with up to 15 percent cash back, ahead of the Memorial Day Weekend sales.