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CHS grad ‘Sis’ Bates inks Adidas deal
• Bates starred on Ceres High’s softball team from 2013-16
Bates shoes
Former Ceres High /University of Washington softball star Nicole “Sis” Bates signed a multi-year endorsement deal with Adidas last month.

Former Ceres High School softball star Nicole “Sis” Bates has signed a multi-year endorsement deal with Adidas.

Players Collxctive, a full-service athlete management agency that represents Bates, made the announcement on Feb. 25.

“I am ecstatic to join the Adidas family as I feel we can grow not only the game of softball, but all women sports, together!” said Bates, 24. “I absolutely love the company and everything they are about.” 

A standout infielder/hitter on the NCAA Division-I University of Washington softball team from 2017-21, Bates made the transition to coaching this spring as a student assistant with the Huskies.

“I really love softball,” she said. “It takes up a lot of my time. I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else. I’m very grateful to be where I’m at. It’s more than I could have dreamed of. Softball has given me everything in my life.”

Bates, one of the most decorated players in UW history, became the Huskies’ all-time hits leader during her final season.

She collected 320 hits in 261 career games.

She also ranks first in triples (18), third in runs (227), fourth in batting average (.385) and fifth in doubles (54) in program history.

She had on-base, slugging and on-base plus slugging percentages of .450, .526 and .976, respectively.

Bates became just the second player in Pac-12 history to win the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year award three times.

Bates totaled just seven errors dating back to the start of the 2019 campaign, which covered a span of 135 games. Her career fielding percentage of .980 is the second-highest mark for any middle infielder in Washington history.

Bates batted .389 from the plate in 2021 with one homer, five triples, 12 doubles, 32 RBIs, 55 runs and 21 stolen bases.

She led the Pac-12 in hits with 75.

Bates started the year a perfect 18-for-18 on stolen bases.

Bates also made history by becoming just the fifth hitter from Washington to earn NFCA All-American honors for a third time.

She was selected to the NFCA Second Team.

She was a first-team pick in 2019 and 2018.

Bates was a Top-10 finalist for 2021 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year.

She was named Washington’s 2020-21 Pac-12 Tom Hansen Conference Medal recipient for Outstanding Female Student-Athlete.

She made the Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll in 2020 and earned Pac-12 All-Academic Honorable Mention recognition in 2019.

She won the 2019 Seattle Female Sports Star of the Year award.

She was voted best shortstop on ESPN’s Greatest All-Time Softball Team via a fan poll in 2019.

Bates earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s in educational leadership and policy studies with a 3.92 grade-point average.

Bates filled a major role in leading Washington to 222 victories, three trips to the Women’s College World Series—including one finals berth—and one Pac-12 regular-season title.

“I haven’t had time to sit back and think about that,” Bates said while talking about the success she’s achieved in the sport. “I’m grateful for the people that have helped me along the way.”

“She’s probably the best shortstop we’ve ever had,” Huskies’ head coach Heather Tarr said.

Bates will resume her professional softball career in the Athletes Unlimited league this summer. 

She finished ninth in the individual standings her rookie year. 

Bates batted .326 with five doubles, one triple, one RBI, six runs, one walk and on stolen base in 15 games.

“I didn’t set any goals, stat-wise,” Bates said. “I just wanted to help my team win.”

Bates signed with Players Collxctive, a female-founded company, in June of 2021.

“Life after college was hard,” she said. “I needed some guidance for what’s good for me. They really want to level the playing field for women in sports. They’re awesome humans.”

“When we look at athletes we want to partner with, it’s all about the player and the person they are,” said Chelsea Suitos, co-founder and head of athlete branding & partnerships with Players Collxctive. “Sis is dynamic. She radiates positivity and is so personable. What she does on the field is exceptional. She was raised by an amazing family. She transcends sports. That’s why we like working with her.”