The Canadian brand survived a dead bicycle boom, an automobile detour and a parade of owners by learning one useful trick: turn a player’s irritation into equipment. Its new owners are betting that the next growth market is not another pro endorsement, but everyone hockey gear was never properly shaped to fit.
Wilson Sporting Goods is a Chicago-based, 113-year-old maker of sports equipment and apparel and one of the most recognized names in athletics. Owned by Amer Sports, Wilson designs and manufactures gear across tennis, basketball, football, baseball, golf, pickleball, padel, volleyball and soft goods, supplying professional leagues, elite athletes and everyday players. It is the official ball supplier to the NBA and NFL, backs a portfolio that includes Louisville Slugger, DeMarini and EvoShield, and has spent recent years pushing into apparel, direct-to-consumer retail and manufacturing innovation such as its 3D-printed Airless basketball.