Florida International University Athletics and Miami-based PlayerU announced a partnership for the 2026-27 athletic year on Sept. 18, 2026. The agreement will place PlayerU branding on FIU football helmets, tennis competition uniforms and golf competition uniforms. PlayerU is an AI-powered pickleball training and player-development platform.
PlayerU decals will appear on FIU football helmets throughout the 2026 regular season. The company also will serve as a jersey patch partner for FIU tennis and golf, with its logo appearing on competition uniforms throughout their respective seasons. Both organizations are based in Miami.
Partnership covers three FIU sports
PlayerU’s platform combines instructional content, player assessments, performance tools and AI-powered assistance. The company says its resources are designed to help players learn pickleball, develop their skills and prepare for lessons, clinics, open play and competitive environments. The FIU agreement gives PlayerU branding placements across football, tennis and golf.
“PlayerU represents the type of innovative, growth-minded organization we want associated with FIU Athletics,” said FIU Director of Athletics Scott Carr. “The visibility created through our football helmets and tennis and golf uniforms provides PlayerU an avenue to display its brand to like-minded audiences and also demographics which previously may not have been aware of PlayerU. We are proud to support a Miami-based company that is using technology and AI to make sports more approachable and help players improve.”
FIU Athletics has more than 400 student-athletes competing in 17 Division I sports. The department is a member of Conference USA and an affiliate member of the American Conference in men’s soccer and swimming and diving. Van Wagner has served as FIU Athletics’ multimedia rights partner since 2016.
“FIU is an institution that reflects the energy, ambition and diversity of Miami, making this a natural partnership for PlayerU,” said Rene Prats, co-founder of PlayerU. “Seeing the PlayerU brand represented on FIU football helmets and alongside the student-athletes from tennis and golf is an incredible opportunity. We look forward to introducing more people to PlayerU while supporting the Panthers and the continued growth of FIU Athletics.”
FSB Take
The partnership gives PlayerU a presence across three FIU sports during the 2026-27 athletic year. Football will feature the company on helmets during the 2026 regular season, while tennis and golf will carry the logo on competition uniforms throughout their respective seasons. The agreement also connects FIU Athletics with a Miami-based sports technology company.
Source: Original report