Making Black History of his own, Jude Thomas created the Basketball Beauties League and teamed-up with Wooter Apparel to help bring diverse and talented professional women’s basketball to courts from Los Angeles to New York.
Since 2014, Wooter Apparel has grown from a start-up company in Staten Island, New York into a global brand by designing and creating some of the most unique and colorful sports apparel that is fully customizable. It’s the chance for athletes to leave their own mark in sports regardless if they are competing in rec leagues, high school, college, and the pros — their own look, their own feel, their own style.
During this time, Wooter has also been fortunate enough to partner with athletes and organizations around the world from Antigua to Zanzibar by creating everything from basketball uniforms to team tracksuits. To be able to look back and reflect on making custom made apparel for the past eight has provided the chance to tell the story of the athletes who shine in Wooter Apparel. What better way to honor and celebrate Black History Month than by turning a spotlight on the icons and next generation of athletes around sports who are making an impact by leaving their own mark with Wooter.
FLOYD MAYWEATHER GIVES BACK WITH WOOTER APPAREL
We start at the top around here. Along with outfitting living legends with the NFL Alumni, Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, Terrell Owens, and former NBA players like Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes, teaming-up with the champ himself, Floyd Mayweather always takes things to a different level. Not only does Floyd boast an impressive fight record (50-0 and 27 KOs), but he always looks money wearing Wooter Apparel. In early February, Floyd tipped-off Black History Month in Las Vegas by holding his annual charity and celebrity basketball game benefitting D-UP ON CANCER during NFL Pro Bowl weekend that starred NFL players like Stefon Diggs (Buffalo Bills) and his brother Trevon Diggs (Dallas Cowboys). This marks yet another clothing collaboration with Floyd where Wooter has been the main sports apparel sponsor at his charity basketball games from Las Vegas, to Miami, Orlando, and Atlantic City.
SAMAYA CLARK-GABRIEL SHOWS WHY SHE’S A RISING STAR
From the boxing ring and basketball court to the TV screen, Wooter Apparel couldn’t be more proud to have custom made the pink and blue basketball uniform for Samaya Clark-Gabriel for her appearance on NBC’s Little Big Shots hosted by Melissa McCarthy. She showcased her basketball dribbling and shooting skills and shared her journey from Brooklyn to Hollywood. In addition to speaking to New York school kids about bullying prevention and taking part in fundraiser events with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Samaya remains focused on giving back and using her platform to spread positivity.
ANTOINE MASON HEATS UP THE COURT AT HOOPS IN THE SUN
It’s only fitting that Antoine Mason has raising a HOOPS IN THE SUN trophy while sporting a smooth colorway and customized jersey from Wooter Apparel. The Queens native has been making crowning achievements since being named Athlete of the Year at New Rochelle High School, playing college basketball at Niagara and Auburn, and before turning balling overseas in Cyprus, Canada, China, Spain and most recently Jordan. So where does the son of the late great Anthony Mason hone his craft during the summer? By raising trophies out on Orchard Beach in the Bronx with HOOPS IN THE SUN, of course!
POWER, SPEED & ENDURANCE TRACK AND FIELD TEAM SHINE IN WOOTER
Black History Month hits different in February when we were asked to design and create track suits for the track and field team all the way in Antigua. While Wooter has outfitted teams and leagues globally for over 25 countries, including Japan, Tanzania, Grenada, Malta, the Netherlands and Australia to name a few, we are happy to make something special for Power, Speed, & Endurance in Antigua that reflects the cool island life for the country located between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. We are truly excited to welcome the track and field team from Power, Speed, & Endurance to our extended Wooter Apparel family!
SCOTT’S TOTS FLAG FOOTBALL TEAM CHANGES THE GAME
This one is for Baltimore. After partnering with Sean Brunson and the famed Brunson League in Baltimore to make something special for the premiere summer basketball league, Wooter Apparel has also been fortunate to create other customized sports apparel for athletes in the area including the Scott’s Tots Flag Football team. The 5-man and 8-man Flag Football team not only brings the energy to the field on Sundays at Senator Bonvegna Field but they also look super fly on the gridiron thanks to Wooter Apparel.
WOOTER APPAREL TEAMS-UP WITH THE BRUNSON LEAGUE
Simply put, the Brunson League goes well beyond basketball in Baltimore, Maryland: it’s a brotherhood. Since 2018, Wooter Apparel has proudly spent time crafting remarkable and colorful basketball uniforms that boast players from the NBA basketball, overseas pros, college standouts, and local hoop heads that wear “Brunson League” across their chest and call the Baltimore area home. In the summer league circuit like the Drew League, Goodman League, and the Entertainers Basketball Classic at Rucker Park among others, the Brunson League has grown into a premiere basketball summer league not only because of the talent on the floor and their strong bond but because of the fully customized uniforms worn across the Brunson League.
OMAR COOK HITS HARD ON THE BIG SCREEN
As we reflect on the black athletes who have stood out while wearing Wooter Apparel, Omar Cook certainly belongs on that list. After playing professionally for the Nebraska Danger, Billings Wolves, and San Diego Strike Force, it’s clear that Omar Cook’s versatility continues to shine brightly. The man who slipped on these customized jerseys for the Strike Force of the Indoor Football league not only captured the durable look and feel on game day, but the former Southern University defensive back who was selected tot he FCS National Bowl has also crossed over to movies and television, including the CW show “All American”. We can’t wait to see what Omar cooks up next!
PRO YOUTH FOUNDATION KEEPS ON SWINGING
Former minor leaguer Edwin “Chip” Lawrence brought PRO Youth Foundation to Atlanta, Georgia to hold the largest Historically Black College and Universities (HBCU) and All College Baseball Showcase Camp featuring 220 student-athletes from 20 different States and Canada with 24 schools in attendance over the two-day showcase camp. It was also the chance for Lawrence and Wooter to team-up to design and customize the jersey shirts for the Showcase and discuss ways to work together on future baseball apparel projects. A National Cross-Checker for the Padres, Lawrence retired from playing in 1999 after an extensive career in minor league baseball as an infielder before becoming a full-time professional baseball scout. For the Southern University alum, staying involved and giving back to help young players grow in the game became his post-career passion in baseball. In 2016, Lawrence launched PRO Youth Foundation to both mentor young people and provide opportunities within the game to aspiring college baseball players by showcasing their skill set and building relationships in baseball with college coaches.
COLLEGE ATHLETES MAKE NIL HISTORY WITH WOOTER APPAREL
Last July as sports began to resume after hitting pause during the global pandemic, a new era dawned for the NCAA and college athletes with Wooter Apparel in position to help student-athletes with their NIL. After created customized jerseys and uniforms for a number of college athletic programs at all levels including Florida Atlantic University, Reedley College, and Immaculata University among others, Wooter Apparel began partnering with individual college athletes in starting and growing their personal brands. Within the last year, our talented in-house designers at Wooter Apparel have designed both logos and apparel for college standouts from Dawand Jones (Ohio State Football), Justin Britt (University of Iowa Football), DeMeer Blankumsee (University of Toldeo Football), Greg Tribble Jr. (University of Akron Basketball), and Robert Fry ( St. Leo University Basketball) to launch their individual collections and online stores. From initial design concepts, to each athlete sporting their own custom made apparel, Wooter Apparel and the NIL are just getting warmed up!
JUDE THOMAS & THE BASKETBALL BEAUTIES LEAGUE TAKE OVER
When members of the Basketball Beauties League take to the court from Los Angeles to New York, you can expect three things: competitive games, amazing female basketball players going to work, and ladies always looking fresh in their gear from Wooter Apparel. Thanks to the brainchild and founder, Jude Thomas, the Basketball Beauties League (BBL) remains a must-see league that holds court from coast to coast (and Puerto Rico too). A former streetball legend that goes by the name of “Hollywizzle”, Jude Thomas decided to step up to the plate and create the Basketball Beauties League which is more than just another basketball league. The BBL is a platform and positive outlet for women from different walks of life to educate and assist others through their selected fields. Ironically, there’s one thing that ties them all together — they have all played basketball in college or professionally and have a deep love for the game. That passion took center court at Rucker Park in 2021 when the BBL partnered with PUMA Basketball and Wooter Apparel to pit NYC vs. LA in a game where each squad gave it their all, showing exactly why the Basketball Beauties League is making history of its own.
GROWING THE GAME IN AFRICA WITH WOOTER AFRICA
With each passing year as Black History Month arrives, we are quickly reminded about how our ability to make athletes customized sports apparel reaches far beyond our offices in Staten Island and reaches all the way around the world. Rooted in a passion for sports, community support, and giving back through the game of basketball, Wooter Africa has blossomed from a non-profit organization to one of the best kept hoops secrets throughout East Africa. And it all started by creating one basketball jersey for Hamid Suleiman Ahmad, who contacted Wooter Apparel from Africa through social media about creating some customized basketball jerseys and uniforms. Within the last four years alone Wooter Africa has made an impact on youth sports and become a beacon of hope for aspiring Africans with hoop dreams of their own on the courts of cities like Morogoro, Tanzania.
Such monumental moments around sports at Wooter Apparel keep us connected celebrating both Black History Month and our extensive work of creating and designing custom made apparel for inspiring athletes, teams, leagues, and organizations around the world. We can’t wait to see who inspires us next by wearing Wooter Apparel.