The Aerie Real Foundation announces partnership with USTA Foundation to support tennis programs & coaches

The Aerie Real Foundation and Offline by Aerie have signed a partnership with USTA Foundation to support opportunities for women in tennis and enhance access to the sport in under-resourced communities across the nation.

Announced just ahead of the start of the US Open, the partnership builds on Aerie’s wider aim to empower the next generation of women and sees the Aerie Real Foundation award USTA Foundation a 50,000 US dollar grant. 

The grant will be used to grow the women’s coaching network while addressing challenges in attracting and retaining women in the sport by supporting the training of 500 new women coaches across its 270 community-based organizations. 

“Tennis teaches courage, resilience and self-belief—qualities the Aerie Real FoundationTM strives to instill in every young woman,” said Jennifer Foyle, President, Executive Creative Director, AE & Aerie, in a statement. 

“By joining forces with the USTA Foundation and investing in women coaches, we’re putting those values into motion on the court and empowering girls in under-resourced communities to build confidence, develop leadership skills and ignite a lifelong passion for the sport.”

By investing in women tennis coaches, the initiative aims to ensure young tennis players are supported by a diverse and growing number of skilled mentors. “Coaches do far more than teach the fundamentals of a sport; they serve as critical role models who show the next generation what’s possible. It is critical that girls see women in these types of leadership roles,” said Ginny Ehrlich, USTA Foundation CEO, in a statement.

To celebrate the partnership, Offline by Aerie and the USTA Foundation have created a limited-edition merchandise collection. The first merchandise collaboration in USTA Foundation history, the collection, which includes a cap and sweatshirt, is exclusively available at Aerie’s SoHo flagship store in New York and online. 

Tennis has become one of fashion's most valuable playing fields in recent years, with brand collaborations at tournaments like the US Open multiplying year on year. Tennis fans are notably more receptive to brand partnerships than the general population and more likely to see themselves as trendsetters in fashion and music, according to Nielsen's 2025 Global Sports Report, making the sport a key opportunity for brands looking for authentic engagement.