BG Files Petition for Lynette Woodward in Globetrotters NIL Dispute
Bailey Glasser partners Michael Murphy and Elliott McGraw and co-counsel Michael Clohisy represents Lynette Woodard, the first female player for the Harlem Globetrotters, in a pre-action petition against the iconic basketball team seeking a subpoena to obtain her 1986 Globetrotters contract and apparel contract. Prior to filing the petition, the Globetrotters had failed to voluntarily produce it to Ms. Woodard despite relying on it for using her name and persona on various clothing items.
The petition, filed in a New York trial court, stems from the Globetrotters using Woodward’s name, image, and likeness (NIL) without her consent, particularly in merchandise and promotional materials in the 2022 UNDRCRWN x Harlem Globetrotters collection. This petition, under New York law, would allow Woodard to obtain “pre-action discovery” before filing an official complaint and would allow her to review the relevant contracts to determine her legal rights and next steps.
Lynette Woodard, 65, is a legendary basketball player who captained the gold-medal-winning 1984 U.S. Olympic Team and holds multiple records at the University of Kansas. Her career spanned international play in Italy and Japan before joining the WNBA in 1997, where she played for the Cleveland Rockers and Detroit Shock.
As a leading sports law commentator noted, this case could have far-reaching implications as NIL rights become increasingly significant, especially for athletes protecting their personal brands, even for retired athletes whose legacies continue to generate commercial value. To learn more about this case, read the Sportico article discussing the petition here.
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