A new multi-year partnership between the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and U.S. Bank will see the organisation become a WNBA Changemaker and also the official bank of the league.

As part of the deal, U.S. Bank will also become the official bank of future WNBA events including the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup, WNBA All-Star, and the WNBA Draft 2022.

Through the focus on the WNBA Changemaker program, U.S. Bank will help the league and a wider collection of WNBA partners elevate women in sports and advance diversity, equity and inclusion.

U.S. Bank will provide athletes and WNBA alumni access to financial resources and will create programs to increase financial education across the US, including a league-wide financial wellness program implementing benefits and resources such as access to advisors for all WNBA athletes.

WNBA commissioner, Cathy Engelbert, said the partnership will help WNBA athletes create plans for their financial futures after their careers.

“U.S. Bank’s support as a WNBA Changemaker is exactly what we envisioned when we created this platform, and we are excited that U.S. Bank will share in our mission to support the players and the league in unparalleled ways,” Engelbert said.

“One important element of this partnership was the idea to create financial education programs that will not only offer assistance to the elite athletes of the WNBA during their playing days, but also help set them up for long-term success beyond the court.

“U.S. Bank has shown outstanding commitment to highlighting our players as role models and community leaders, and we look forward to working together to advance the WNBA,” she said.

U.S. Bank chairman, president and CEO, Andy Cecere, said the organisation and the WNBA will also work together to identify and work with a non-profit organisation to develop a tailored program to support young women in underserved communities to help identify goals and access real business opportunities.

“At U.S. Bank, we are focused on empowering women leaders, building wealth, and creating access for diverse communities,” Cecere said.

“Our core values line up perfectly with the WNBA in inspiring the next generation of female leaders.

“We look forward to positively impacting women’s basketball as a WNBA Changemaker, not only by amplifying the sport, but also by focusing on social change alongside these other amazing supporters,” he said.

U.S. Bank vice chair and chief administrative officer, Kate Quinn, said: “This relationship represents so much of what we are committed to at U.S. Bank, and we could not be prouder to support the WNBA.”

“Together, we will work to advance equity through financial wellness and education, which is part of U.S. Bank Access Commitment, our long-term approach to building wealth and creating opportunities for diverse customers and employees.

“We are excited to get to work,” Quinn said.

The partnership sees U.S. Bank join the growing WNBA Changemaker brands, which now includes AT&T, Deloitte, Nike, and Google.