BY LEXI LOBDELL ’20
Recent scandals involving the NCAA and Adidas brand have raised questions about Mount Holyoke’s partnership with Champion’s Choice, the number one exclusive Adidas team dealer in the U.S. According to the New York Times, Adidas has bribed high school students and families with sums as much as $100,000 to commit to the specific Adidas-sponsored schools. Both Leila Kouakou ’18 and Indra Rapinchuk-Souccar ’20 have concerns with the college’s partnership. While both athletes like Adidas as a brand, they agree that Mount Holyoke’s partnership with Champion’s Choice raises ethical concerns. Kouakou said, “I believe that [the federal investigation with Adidas and the NCAA] goes strongly against the NEWMAC [New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference] and Mount Holyoke’s treasured policies.”
Rapinchuk-Souccar agreed, “I do not think that Mount Holyoke should continue their partnership with [Adidas]. This is partially because I believe [this controversy] goes against Mount Holyoke’s policies but also because I don’t understand what we gain from our partnership.”
Kouakou is disappointed by the quality, communication, and sizing of the apparel from Champion’s Choice: “Champion’s Choice in a partnership with Mount Holyoke College is a waste of the student’s and the College’s time and money,” she said. Everything I own from Champion’s Choice is unraveling, fits awkwardly, or the print is peeling. We have to pay a ridiculous amount compared to other schools and get much lower quality items.”
According to the Kouakou, the lacrosse team has never had an easy time ordering apparel through Champion’s Choice. The team had to argue with a representative to obtain the gear that they order each year, “The quality of the exact same shirt was significantly worse. It was a lot thinner than previous years.” The gear is targeted towards petite athletes and “disregards athletes of every other size and shape.”
“Last year when we got new uniforms, we ordered sizes based on the samples we received. When the uniforms arrived, they were obviously at least one size smaller than what we ordered. As a 5’10 athlete of medium build, I have to get an extra large women’s or men’s sizes in order for them to fit,” said Kouakou.
“I think the selection is really weak,” said Rapinchuk-Souccar. “Adidas does not have equipment or clothing appropriate for equestrians. It’s really disappointing to be limited by what they provide us and by price. Their communication has been really bad and we never really get what we ask for in our store… I would really like to see everything changed, I do not believe that the Equestrian team gains anything from being sponsored by Adidas.” Kouakou agreed, “I would like to see this contract terminated as soon as possible to save future athletes from the frustration of working with this company. I have never had a positive experience with Champion’s Choice and would much rather order from Nike or at the very least, directly from Adidas.”