Former Adidas Exec Sues Over Gender Discrimination, Retaliation

Lindsay Gregg claims she was fired after advocating for equal resources and respect for women's basketball.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 8:08pm by

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A photorealistic studio still-life image of a shattered glass trophy or award on a clean, monochromatic background, conveying a sense of disappointment and unfulfilled potential in the realm of gender equality in sports.A shattered glass trophy symbolizes the broken promises of gender equity in the sports industry, as highlighted by a former Adidas executive's lawsuit.Portland Today

Lindsay Gregg, the former head of women's basketball marketing at Adidas, has filed a lawsuit against the company alleging gender discrimination and retaliation. Gregg claims she was fired in February 2026 after repeatedly advocating for equal resources and fair treatment for the women's basketball program, which she says was consistently underfunded compared to the men's side.

Why it matters

The lawsuit comes at a time when interest and viewership in women's basketball has surged, with the WNBA and women's college basketball seeing record-breaking numbers in 2025. Gregg's allegations highlight ongoing challenges around gender equity in the sports industry, where women's teams and athletes have long struggled to receive the same level of investment and respect as their male counterparts.

The details

According to the lawsuit, Gregg managed twice as many athletes as her male colleagues and repeatedly raised concerns that the workload was unsustainable. She also alleges that in late 2025, she made a presentation to a 'top Adidas leader' about the lack of investment in the women's basketball program. In January 2026, Gregg reported to HR that she believed she was being treated differently than her male counterparts, but no corrective action was taken. The lawsuit also describes an incident where Gregg and a WNBA player found their designated trailer being used by the family of an NBA player not affiliated with Adidas, which Gregg said undermined the safety and comfort of the female athletes.

  • Gregg was hired as Adidas' head of women's basketball marketing in 2022.
  • In late 2025, Gregg made a presentation to a 'top Adidas leader' about the lack of investment in the women's basketball program.
  • In January 2026, Gregg reported to HR that she believed she was being treated differently than her male counterparts.
  • Gregg was let go from Adidas on February 25, 2026.

The players

Lindsay Gregg

The former head of women's basketball marketing at Adidas who is suing the company for gender discrimination and retaliation.

Adidas

The global sportswear company that Gregg was employed by as the head of women's basketball marketing.

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What they’re saying

“'Our partners' space, regardless of gender, should be protected and never taken from them. [The NBA player] and his family were put above our female partners' physical and mental safety and wellbeing, and that is unacceptable.'”

— Lindsay Gregg, Former Adidas Executive

What’s next

The lawsuit is currently pending in Multnomah County, Oregon. Adidas has not yet commented on the pending litigation.

The takeaway

Gregg's lawsuit highlights the ongoing challenges around gender equity in the sports industry, where women's teams and athletes continue to struggle for equal resources and respect compared to their male counterparts. The surge in popularity of women's basketball in recent years has heightened these issues, and Gregg's case could set an important precedent for how companies address gender discrimination claims.