Under Armour and Stephen Curry to end partnership in 2026

BALTIMORE - Under Armour, Inc. (NYSE:UAA, UA) and basketball star Stephen Curry announced Thursday they will separate Curry Brand from the athletic apparel company, ending their collaboration that began over a decade ago. The announcement comes as Under Armour’s stock trades near its 52-week low of $4.17, with shares down 48% over the past year.

The separation will take effect after the release of the Curry 13 basketball shoe in February 2026, with additional colorways and apparel collections to be available through October 2026, according to a company press release.

Following the split, Curry will operate independently from Under Armour, while the sportswear manufacturer plans to develop new UA Basketball products and maintain support for athletes and basketball programs.

"For Under Armour, this moment is about discipline and focus on the core UA brand during a critical stage of our turnaround," said Kevin Plank, Founder and CEO of Under Armour. The statement aligns with the company’s financial reality, as InvestingPro data shows Under Armour has not been profitable over the last twelve months, though analysts predict the company will return to profitability this year.

Curry Brand was launched in 2020 as an extension of the partnership between the NBA star and the Baltimore-based company. The collaboration combined performance products with community investments, particularly in youth sports and underfunded basketball programs. Despite operating with a significant debt burden, Under Armour maintains a current ratio of 1.69, indicating its liquid assets exceed short-term obligations.

"Under Armour believed in me early in my career and gave me the space to build something much bigger and more impactful than a shoe," Curry said in the statement. "I’m excited for a future that’s focused on aggressive growth with a continued commitment to keep showing up for the next generation."

Under Armour stated it will continue to support the Project Rampart youth sports and education initiative in Oakland that was expanded through the partnership with Curry.

The company indicated that the separation will allow both parties to pursue their respective strengths, with Under Armour concentrating on product innovation and performance for athletes while Curry Brand gains independence to chart its own course.

In other recent news, Under Armour reported a surprising earnings result for its second fiscal quarter of 2025. The company posted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.04, which was double the forecasted $0.02. Revenue also slightly exceeded expectations, reaching $1.33 billion compared to the anticipated $1.31 billion. These results highlight the company’s ability to surpass analyst estimates. Despite these positive earnings and revenue figures, the stock price experienced a decline in pre-market trading. This suggests that investors may have concerns about Under Armour’s broader financial health and future guidance. The recent developments indicate that while the company performed well in terms of earnings, there may still be underlying issues affecting investor sentiment.

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