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April 12, 2024
The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and Perrigo Company plc, a leading provider of Consumer Self-Care Products, announced that Opill® — the first-ever daily birth control pill available without a prescription in the United States — have entered a multi-year partnership that focuses on building confidence, strength and women’s health equity.
The relationship will tip off at the 2024 WNBA Draft presented by State Farm on April 15 in Brooklyn, New York where Opill® is an Associate Partner. Open to fans for the first time since 2016, the Draft sold out in 15 minutes. The pill also recently celebrated a major milestone; last month it became the first over-the-counter (OTC) daily birth control pill to be available at most major retailers nationwide and online. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved it for OTC use in July 2023 and it became available for purchase in March 2024.
“Opill® is changing the game in reproductive health, just like the WNBA’s game-changing role in sports and pop culture,” said Leila Bahbah, Perrigo U.S. Women’s Health Brand Lead. “Building upon our shared commitment to foster equitable access and to increase health education, the goal of this partnership is to prioritize dialogue and resources in support of women’s reproductive health.” Bahbah also noted that the partnership is focused on “anyone who can get pregnant” and is interested in learning more about their reproductive health as well as their options for contraception.
The WNBA combines competition and entertainment with a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and social responsibility. During its 2020 season, the WNBA and WNBPA launched the WNBA Justice Movement. Through it, they formed the Social Justice Council with the mission of being a driving force of necessary change and continuing work regarding women’s and maternal health and voting rights, among other important societal issues.
As part of its 2024 season, the WNBA is concentrating its social justice efforts into two areas: civic engagement and reproductive health advocacy. The league will take a multifaceted approach to spotlight civic engagement initiatives, with a particular focus on understanding how voting influences reproductive health matters within communities of color.
“We’ve been committed to addressing the issues that matter to our players, to our fans, to our communities, and we know that expanding access to reproductive health care is really of the utmost importance,” said Colie Edison, WNBA Chief Growth Officer. “It’s great to be working with a partner whose values align and authentically integrates into the health equity work our players are dedicated to.”
The partnership comes at a time when access to reproductive rights are being targeted across the country and two years after the US Supreme Court overturned the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade legislation. As reported by Front Office Sports, the same day this partnership was announced – April 9 – the Supreme Court of Arizona, home of the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, upheld a near-total abortion ban that was part of a long-dormant 1864 law. In twelve states—including Arizona, Illinois, and Indiana, which all have WNBA teams—health-care providers, institutions, or pharmacists can refuse contraceptive care.
The partners are also collaborating on a program to reach students on college campuses nationwide. At these and other educational events, the organizations will celebrate those who are changing the game and educate millions of WNBA fans about this new option, making contraception more accessible in the US.
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