The smart ball system will be integrated into Nike’s official matchballs and combined with player-tracking from the 2026-27 season

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The Barclays Women’s Super League will be the first football league in the world to use Sportable’s Connected Ball technology.

The use of the smart ball technology brings “unprecedented levels of performance insight and data to women’s football”, within both the matchday and training environment.

Sportable’s FIFA certified Connected Ball technology will be integrated into Nike’s Official Matchballs, with player-tracking systems to be deployed in Barclays WSL matches.

Additionally, clubs will be given the option to utilise it within training environments.

The system is currently being tested and Nike, WSL Football, and Sportable then plan to expand the project from the beginning on the 2026-27 system.

Athlete and ball-tracking technology will then operate at every Barclays WSL match. It will provide information on ball speed, spin, flight, high-intensity efforts and contextual workload, team shape, tactical patterns and off the ball actions.

Zarah Al-Kudcy, chief revenue officer, WSL Football: “Nike’s new partnership with us is built on innovation and putting players first, which we have already seen with the rollout of boots and gloves for all players and goalkeepers without personal endorsement deals. Their desire to elevate the role of the ball through Sportable’s technology will enable us to provide enhanced performance data to our clubs as well as tell richer stories to our fans. We are excited to be the first football league in the world to use this technology.”

Sportable CEO, Dugald Macdonald, adds: “It is a privilege to work with Nike and support WSL Football on a project that will meaningfully impact the progression of the women’s game. The opportunity to create a consistent, data-rich view of performance, from training pitches to stadiums, is truly groundbreaking and we are excited to help unlock the next level of insight for teams across the league and their fans via an enhanced, data-rich, broadcast experience.” 

Sportable’s technology has already powered American football and rugby union, where the collaboration focused on unlocking performance and fan engagement insights, with augmented reality graphics powering on-screen real-time match stats such as kick distance, pass distance, and territory gained, which were presented across broadcast and Six Nations digital channels.