| | Associated Press
MIAMI -- Venus Williams is on the verge of signing the
richest endorsement deal ever for a female athlete.
USA Today reported Tuesday that Williams would sign a five-year
contract with Reebok worth $40 million. Reebok declined to discuss
the terms, pending a news conference tentatively scheduled for Dec.
21 in New York to announce the deal.
"Until then, it's just speculation," company spokeswoman
Denise Kaigler said Tuesday. "Both sides have not reached a final,
final, final agreement. But we're very hopeful it will be next
week."
Tiger Woods recently signed the most lucrative endorsement deal
in sports, a five-year, $100 million agreement with Nike. In 2001
he'll make about $54 million from endorsements with 12 companies.
Williams, 20, announced a deal Monday with Wilsons Leather, with
terms undisclosed. She has been affiliated with Reebok since 1995.
Williams is the reigning Wimbledon and U.S. Open champion, and
she won two gold medals at the Sydney Olympics.
"She is an exceptional athlete and an extraordinary individual
with a multidimensional lifestyle," Kaigler said. "We believe her
appeal transcends age, gender and geographic barriers. She is a
role model everywhere, especially to women."
Williams' sister Serena has an endorsement deal with Puma.
The sisters' agent, Leland Hardy, and their father, Richard
Williams, didn't return phone calls seeking comment.
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