Adaejah Hodge Signs Landmark Nike Deal
British Virgin Islands sprint star Adaejah Hodge has officially signed a Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) agreement with Nike on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, following a record-breaking freshman season at the University of Georgia. Hodge — now a Bowerman Award finalist — celebrated the deal on Facebook and will make her Diamond League debut at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene this weekend, according to VINO.
ROAD TOWN, Tortola — British Virgin Islands sprinter Adaejah Hodge has officially signed a Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) agreement with global sports brand Nike, a move confirmed on Wednesday, July 1, 2026 (VINO). The endorsement follows a breakthrough freshman season at the University of Georgia that rewrote collegiate sprinting history.
During the 2026 NCAA outdoor season Hodge ran 10.63 seconds in the 100 metres and 21.68 seconds in the 200 metres, setting new NCAA records in both events and placing her among the fastest women ever at the collegiate level (Guavaberry). Those times, and her podium performances, were pivotal in helping the University of Georgia secure the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field women’s team title (Guavaberry).
Hodge’s surge has drawn international attention and further recognition: she has been named a finalist for the prestigious Bowerman Award, given annually to the top collegiate track and field athlete in the United States (VINO). The Bowerman nomination underscores Hodge’s exceptional freshman year and her standing among the sport’s rising stars.
According to VINO, Hodge announced the Nike deal on social media after signing, celebrating on Facebook with the words, “From dreaming it to doing it! Just Do It, NikeAthlete, NikeNIL.” The post also indicated she will return to the University of Georgia for her sophomore season. The July 1 signing date and the social media reaction mark a new chapter in her career while she remains a student-athlete.
Under NCAA NIL rules — introduced in July 2021 — student-athletes are permitted to earn income from endorsements and other commercial activities without jeopardising collegiate eligibility. That policy change has allowed standout athletes like Hodge to capitalise on their performances while continuing their education and sport (Guavaberry).
Hodge is set to step onto the global stage immediately: she will make her World Athletics Diamond League debut at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon, on Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4, 2026, at Hayward Field (VINO). The meet will pit her against some of the fastest sprinters in the world and provides an early high-profile test as she begins this next phase.
Nike’s decision to add Hodge to its roster — which includes Olympic champions and world record holders — signals confidence in her marketability and future potential on and off the track (Guavaberry). For the British Virgin Islands, the deal is more than an individual achievement: it is a high-profile example of a Territory athlete attracting international commercial support while still competing at the collegiate level.
Locally, Hodge’s rise and her agreement with Nike are likely to inspire young athletes and energise coaches and administrators working to develop the Territory’s track and field pipeline. Her visibility may encourage investment in local programmes and facilities and show other BVI athletes what is possible on the world stage.
Primary source: Guavaberry