St. Louis Shock Announces Game-Changing Uniform Deal with MUEV for 2025 Season
What's the Score?
The St. Louis Shock, a team in Major League Pickleball (MLP), has partnered with MUEV, an apparel brand, designating them as the team's Official Uniform Partner for the 2025 season. MUEV will provide high-performance uniforms for the team's players, staff, and ownership.
Hit it deeper!
The St. Louis Shock has entered into a partnership with MUEV, a brand specialising in premium pickleball apparel. Under this agreement, MUEV will serve as the Official Uniform Partner for the Shock throughout the 2025 Major League Pickleball season. This means that MUEV will be responsible for outfitting all members of the St. Louis Shock organisation, including the professional players competing in MLP events, team staff, and ownership, with their high-performance uniforms.
MUEV is described as an apparel brand founded by individuals who are enthusiasts of pickleball. Their focus is on creating clothing specifically tailored to meet the unique physical demands of the sport. This includes designing apparel with features that support the types of movements common in pickleball, such as quick lateral shifts, sharp changes in direction, and dynamic reaching across the court. To achieve this, MUEV incorporates specific design elements into their apparel, including stretch panels in strategic areas, reinforced stress points for durability, and moisture-wicking fabrics to manage sweat. They also emphasize the use of premium textiles sourced from countries like Japan and Italy.
Andrew Haines, the Chief Operating Officer of the St. Louis Shock, commented on the partnership, highlighting the alignment of vision and values between the two organisations. He stated that MUEV's apparel offers both premium quality and innovative design, and that it genuinely enhances player performance. Haines noted that MUEV's approach to combining functionality and style perfectly complements the Shock's commitment to excellence both on and off the court.
Chris Rork, the Founder and CEO at MUEV, also expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration. He echoed the sentiment of aligned vision and a shared commitment to innovation and excellence within the sport of pickleball. Rork believes that seeing the St. Louis Shock players compete while wearing MUEV uniforms on the MLP stage will effectively demonstrate what high-performance apparel for this rapidly growing sport should look and feel like.
A notable aspect of this partnership is the planned collaborative product development. St. Louis Shock players will have the opportunity to work directly with MUEV's design team. This collaboration is intended to allow the professional athletes to provide insights and feedback on what competitive players require from their gear. Haines described this as a "collaborative design process" that will lead to the development of custom apparel lines incorporating professional athlete feedback. He emphasised that this ensures the gear not only performs at the highest level but also addresses specific needs that only elite players would recognise.
This uniform deal is one of several recent premium brand collaborations for the St. Louis Shock, including partnerships with DaGuys, Matrix Midwest, and Pickleman’s Gourmet Café. These collaborations are seen as contributing to the Shock's growing presence within the sport of pickleball. Fans are expected to see the new MUEV uniforms at upcoming MLP events.
The World Pickleball Verdict
The uniform partnership between the St. Louis Shock and MUEV is more than just an apparel deal; it signals the increasing professionalisation and commercial vitality of Major League Pickleball teams. By partnering with a brand specifically focused on high-performance pickleball apparel, the Shock is prioritising the needs of its athletes and seeking a competitive edge through specialised gear. The collaborative aspect of the design process, directly involving players in the development of their uniforms, demonstrates a forward-thinking approach that values athlete input and aims to optimise performance. Furthermore, this partnership, alongside others recently announced by the Shock, indicates the team's strategy to build a strong brand identity and engage with the growing ecosystem surrounding professional pickleball. As MLP seeks to expand its reach, these types of strategic brand partnerships are essential for team visibility and financial health, contributing to the overall growth and maturity of the league.