Shohei Ohtani didn’t just make history in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series, he made New Balance the night’s biggest brand winner. After his jaw-dropping performance (10 strikeouts, 0 earned runs while pitching and 3 home runs hitting) that clinched his NLCS MVP title, New Balance moved fast, launching a sleek new campaign celebrating Ohtani’s trademark poise and precision.
The visuals spotlight his calm intensity — the perfect embodiment of New Balance’s values: balance, control, and excellence. As the global face of New Balance Baseball, Ohtani continues to expand the brand’s influence far beyond the field, redefining what it means to be a modern athlete.
Ohtani doesn’t have many U.S. partnerships so New Balance really benefited. He could be seen wearing New Balance shoes on both the mound and at the plate with NB batting gloves.
The brand launched New Balance x Shohei Ohtani collection — inspired by his performance mindset and personal style — dropped right after his MVP moment.
New Balance promotional image, which includes logos on Ohtani’s batting gloves and shoes — though the company would no doubt prefer the team’s Nike uniform logo is forgettable. (New Balance)
A busy sports calendar
The World Series will start Friday night. The MLS playoffs are underway. We also have the regular seasons of the NFL, NBA and NHL. That’s not to mention various college sports. It’s the busiest part of the calendar year for sure but sports fans are getting what they want, even if it may overlap. This means a lot of competing signals for brands trying to align with these athletes.
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San Diego State men’s basketball gets boost from alum and sunglasses tycoon
San Diego State University alumnus Chase Fisher (’10), founder of Blenders Eyewear, has pledged $5 million to support the Aztec men’s basketball program as it gears up for its 2026 move into the Pac-12. The five-year gift — the largest of its kind for SDSU Athletics — will enhance player recruitment, retention, and NIL opportunities through the newly established Chase Fisher Athletics Support Fund, following $275,000 in earlier contributions from Blenders.
Fisher, whose company is also behind Coach Prime’s official sunglasses, described the donation as deeply personal: “Every dollar represents lessons, losses, and late nights that started right here.” SDSU Athletic Director JD Wicker called the commitment “transformative,” while Head Coach Brian Dutcher praised Fisher for “changing the game.” With his “life in forward motion” mantra, Fisher hopes to make SDSU a model for how athletes can build not just winning teams — but personal brands, businesses, and futures.
Chase Fisher with members of 2023-24 men’s basketball team.
Chase Fisher in the Blenders showroom in Pacific Beach, California.
Quick Hits
Alabama QB Ty Simpson gifted his teammates custom Yeti coolers through a new collaboration with the brand. The $2.3M-valued athlete continues to stack high-profile NIL deals with partners like Gatorade, Hugo Boss, EA Sports, Raising Cane’s, and Panini America.
In more New Balance news, the company continues to expand its NIL footprint, signing rising basketball stars Sienna Betts, Jordan Smith Jr., and Haylen Ayers. They join an elite roster that already includes Cooper Flagg, Cameron Brink, and Kawhi Leonard.
Overtime
Hope you’re enjoying the Game Changers newsletter.
Brought to you by Eric Wein from Athletes Endorse, a Los Angeles-based agency that creates sales-driven athlete marketing campaigns in under 30 days.
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Thank you for reading.
Until next week,
