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The Los Angeles Sparks signed a 6-figure deal that will give every player her own custom nutrition plan - the first of its kind in the WNBA

May 19, 2021, 21:27 IST
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The Los Angeles Sparks' deal with Fuel Your Life is the latest in a series of recent efforts from the franchise to promote players' holistic health and wellness.Meg Oliphant/Getty Images
  • The Los Angeles Sparks have reached a 6-figure deal to partner with nutrition brand Fuel Your Life.
  • The first-of-its-kind partnership in the WNBA offers each LA player her own custom diet plan.
  • The Sparks' deal with Fuel Your Life builds on recent efforts to promote holistic player wellness.
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The Los Angeles Sparks are working towards peak performance as a team - though it may look rather different for each player.

The WNBA franchise has struck a six-figure, multi-year deal with dietetics brand Fuel Your Life. As part of the partnership, the brand's dietitians and health experts will develop custom nutrition plans for each of Los Angeles' players to improve their physical performance and mental health.

Fuel Your Life will create custom diet plans for Los Angeles Sparks players.Fuel Your Life/Los Angeles Sparks

The newly announced agreement makes Fuel Your Life the Sparks' first official performance nutrition partner and offers the Australian company its first foray with an American sports team. The deal also represents a rising tide in investment in the WNBA and women's sports in general, which have historically been overlooked in favor of men's teams, athletes, and franchises.

"Fuel Your Life's decision to partner with a women's professional team speaks volumes," Sparks interim president and COO Natalie White said via the team's release. "We can't wait to get to work and build a strong foundation for this long-term partnership."

Los Angeles Sparks star Chiney Ogwumike.Meg Oliphant/Getty Images

Fuel Your Life has already worked with various sports franchises in Australia, including the Melbourne Storm, Melbourne Victory, Brisbane Roar, and Sunshine Coast Lightning. Under the new deal with the Sparks, the company's founder, Tyson Tripcony, will become the franchise's head of sports nutrition.

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To determine the nutritional needs of each Sparks player and tailor plans accordingly, Tripcony will collaborate with Los Angeles' director of sports medicine Dr. Courtney Watson.

"From the moment Tyson and the Fuel Your Life team reached out to the Sparks, we knew this would be a great opportunity for our athletes," White said. "Tyson Tripcony has a world-renowned reputation for helping elite athletes optimize their diets and performance. His passion and values directly align with our organization."

Los Angeles Sparks star Nneka Ogwumike.Gregory Payan/AP Images

Tripcony's work with Los Angeles stars like Nneka and Chiney Ogwumike, Kristi Toliver, and Brittney Sykes will also address their needs off the court, aiming to limit the injury risk, expedite the recovery process, and protect against illness.

"After the year we've all had in sports around the world, it will be a great time to partner with the LA Sparks and the WNBA as they celebrate their 25th anniversary season and bring our expertise in performance nutrition to the USA," Tripcony said.

The Sparks' deal with Fuel Your Life is the latest in a series of recent partnerships the franchise has formed related to players' health and well-being. Earlier this week, the three-time WNBA champions announced a deal with recovery brand Hyperice that gives players access to heat-therapy products and massage tools.

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Los Angeles Sparks guard Erica Wheeler defends.AP Photo/Ashley Landis

Los Angeles also signed a deal with WAFF, a brand that develops inflatable sports performance discs that WNBA, NFL, NBA, and NHL stars use to help build balance and stability.

With the WNBA season just beginning, the Sparks hope these efforts will keep players healthy over the four months of regular-season play to come. Offering players these perks could also boost the franchise's player retention and free-agency efforts.

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