ADIDAS x HARPER MURRAY
She's the main character. Welcome to the /// family.
adidas tapped us to announce their newest NIL partnership with one of volleyball’s most-watched rising stars–Nebraska phenom, Harper Murray. We crafted a creative campaign and comms strategy with sculpted photography, a cinematic film, and a season-long strategic rollout that was not only about signing Harper, but made it clear this was a defining moment in the arrival of women’s volleyball.
Opportunity
Volleyball was starting to break viewership records and flood social feeds, but adidas hadn’t yet carved out authority in the space. Harper’s signing tied the brand to the sport’s main character and, with her, defined a key moment in volleyball’s rise.
Insight
New and younger fans don’t always watch full matches – they follow the heroes and the highlights that show up in their feeds. Harper was already establishing herself as someone to watch. We presented her as women’s sports’ next big icon, making every frame and moment feel like proof she’s the face of volleyball’s rise.
Approach
CREATIVE DIRECTION
We built three creative worlds that let Harper move between athlete and icon.
• Performance – precision with power, sculpted light, high-drama stills.
• Lifestyle – fashion-forward styling with subtle sport cues.
• Fanwear – pride, styled and rooted in Nebraska red.
• Lifestyle – fashion-forward styling with subtle sport cues.
• Fanwear – pride, styled and rooted in Nebraska red.
FILM
Shot with the sculpted light and low angles usually reserved for legends of their respective games, it carried a sense of nostalgia and reverence while pushing Harper forward as what’s next. Proof she’s already part of volleyball’s history, and the face of where it’s headed.
Shot with the sculpted light and low angles usually reserved for legends of their respective games, it carried a sense of nostalgia and reverence while pushing Harper forward as what’s next. Proof she’s already part of volleyball’s history, and the face of where it’s headed.
CONTENT STRATEGY
Two speeds of storytelling. Big Moments that stopped the scroll – reveal stills, cinematic hero video, fashion crossover. Responsive Moments that kept the story alive – practice clips, rituals, sideline energy, fan reposts.
Result
• adidas teams requested extended use of the creative across events and channels.
• The University of Nebraska asked to feature the work in campus stores.
• Other NCAA and pro athletes reached out wanting “the Harper treatment” – a clear sign of impact (and a reminder that not everyone gets this level of investment).
• Most importantly, adidas showed up as the brand with the clearest lens on where volleyball is headed. Harper became the face of the future. adidas became the brand synonymous with her rise.
• Most importantly, adidas showed up as the brand with the clearest lens on where volleyball is headed. Harper became the face of the future. adidas became the brand synonymous with her rise.
