KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced on Thursday that it has signed an extension Spalding, the largest basketball equipment supplier in the world, as its ‘Official Men’s & Women’s Basketball.’ The extension will run through June of 2026 utilizing the TF Legacy basketball.

Much like the NAIA, Spalding boasts an innovative and decorated history. The organization made its mark in the athletics world when former Boston Red Stockings and Chicago White Stockings pitcher A.G. Spalding opened a sporting goods company in Chicago in 1876. That same year, Spalding became the official ball of the National League – a relationship that lasted for 100 years.

“The NAIA is proud to continue its relationship with Spalding for the foreseeable future,” said Austin Bennett, NAIA Director of Championships. “Spalding has been a great partner to our basketball teams, and we look forward to our continued relationship.”

It was 1894 when Spalding made its mark in the basketball world, as the founder of basketball and a key individual in the creation of the NAIA, Dr. James Naismith, employed Spalding to develop the first basketball. Since that moment, basketball has been a focus for Spalding, including becoming the official ball of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1983 and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) in 1997.

ABOUT NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS (NAIA) The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., is a governing body of small athletics programs that are dedicated to character-driven intercollegiate athletics. NAIA members provide more than 83,000 student-athletes with opportunities to play college sports, earn $1.3 billion in scholarships and compete in 28 national championships. naia.org | @NAIA