GW Athletics officials announced Vanda Pharmaceuticals as the University’s first-ever jersey patch partner Monday.
Officials in the release said GW’s 20 varsity teams will begin wearing the patch featuring the logo of Foggy Bottom-based Vanda Pharmaceuticals beginning this fall, calling it the largest corporate partnership in Athletics’ history. The jersey patch brand deal is the first in the Atlantic 10 Conference and is the first among colleges and universities without football teams nationwide.
“This partnership is a transformational moment for GW Athletics,” Director of Athletics Michael Lipitz said in the release. “We are proud to further partner with an innovative organization that shares our commitment to excellence and student-athlete success. Vanda’s additional investment in GW enhances our ability to recruit, retain and support our exceptional student-athletes.”
The partnership comes after the NCAA in January authorized Division I programs to enter into jersey patch partnerships for non-championship competition beginning on Aug. 1. In the fall, teams will be able to place up to two patches, no more than four square inches, on their jerseys for regular season competition.
An Athletics spokesperson declined to comment on the financial value or terms of the partnership, but said that earned resources would be put towards Athletics’ general operating fund.
GW and Vanda Pharmaceuticals first partnered last October, with the company serving as the presenting sponsor of men’s basketball’s 2025-26 season and the 50th anniversary of the Smith Center as part of a multi-year agreement. The company’s logo appeared on the Smith Center’s court and along the sidelines throughout the season throughout the 2025-2026 season. Vanda Pharmaceuticals did not respond to a request for comment about the partnership or jersey patch initiative.
“Although we are a global company with offices in Berlin and London, our headquarters are here in Foggy Bottom,” Mihael Polymeropoulos, Vanda Pharmaceuticals’ President and CEO said in the release. “We value our relationship with GW and the students, having several alumni joining Vanda after graduation. We look forward to an exciting year ahead and extending our wonderful partnership.”
Bullpen Strategies, a marketing firm based in the District and Athletics’ multimedia rights holder, facilitated the initial partnership and the jersey patch initiative.
