National Girls and Women in Sports Day: Celebrating Our adidas Athletes

February 4th, marks this year´s National Girls and Women in Sports Day, a moment to recognise the role women play across sport today — as athletes, professionals, and references for the generations coming next.

Women are making their mark across the world of sport, and at All Racquet Sports, we´re proud to showcase that progress. From padel’s established professional circuits to pickleball’s rapid international expansion, women are central to how these sports are played, watched, and understood. Within the adidas family, we’re proud to work with athletes who represent that progress not just through results, but through consistency, professionalism, and commitment.

Today, we’re celebrating two of them: Martita Ortega in padel and Mari Humberg in pickleball.

Martita: Setting the Standard in Professional Padel

Martita has been part of the elite of women’s padel for years, and her career is built on sustained performance at the very highest level. Calm, intelligent, and precise, her game is defined by control and decision-making rather than raw power — a style that has made her one of the most respected players on tour.

Her achievements speak clearly. Martita reached world number one, becoming one of the youngest players in history to do so, and has remained a constant presence among the top-ranked players season after season. Over the course of her career, she has won multiple World Padel Tour titles, including Open and Master tournaments, and has qualified repeatedly for season-ending finals, reserved for the best players of each year.

What stands out just as much as the titles is her consistency. Year after year, Martita has remained at the top of a sport that continues to grow more competitive, setting a benchmark for what long-term excellence in padel looks like.

On court, she competes with one of our top padel rackets - the adidas Cross It Light 2026.  A racket that reflects her approach to the game: balanced, manoeuvrable, and built for control. It supports her fast reactions and clean shot selection, but it’s her understanding of padel that defines her career.

Mari Humberg: Competing and Representing Pickleball at the Highest Level

Mari Humberg is part of the adidas family at a key moment for pickleball. As the sport continues to expand globally, she represents the level of competitiveness and professionalism that defines the modern game.

Competing consistently on the professional circuit, Mari has achieved multiple podium finishes at major U.S. tournaments and established herself as a regular presence in high-level women’s and doubles events. On court, she competes with our pickleball paddles, designed for precision, control, and fast reactions - just like her game. 

Her game is fast and intense, built around anticipation, quick hands, and constant pressure. At the professional level, pickleball leaves little margin for error, and Mari’s ability to compete consistently speaks to both preparation and mindset.

Beyond results, her role matters. As pickleball reaches new audiences worldwide, athletes like Mari help define what elite women’s competition in the sport looks like today — competitive, committed, and constantly improving.

A Broader Picture: Women in Sport Today

National Girls and Women in Sports Day is also about the wider picture. Progress in women’s sport hasn’t come overnight — it’s been built through visibility, opportunity, and athletes who continue to show up year after year.

From grassroots participation to professional competition, women are raising standards across every level of sport. In racquet sports especially, that progress is visible not only in results, but in the quality of play, the professionalism of the circuits, and the growing number of young players who now see a clear path forward.

Athletes like Martita and Mari are part of that movement. Different sports, different journeys — but the same impact.

Today, we celebrate them, and all the women who continue to push sport forward.