Is Academy Sports + Outdoors Woke?
10/100 — Mildly Woke
US
Score Summary
Scores 10/100 — mildly woke, and one of the cleanest big-box retailers on our index. Academy's corporate responsibility program is built on three pillars — Empowering Our Team Members, Operating with Integrity, and Supporting Our Communities — with no DEI department, no diversity officer, no representation targets and no equity language anywhere in its investor disclosures. It has never been rated on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index and sponsors no Pride events. Notably, it declined to follow Dick's Sporting Goods in restricting firearm sales in 2018. Its only scored dimension is ESG-style disclosure via the "Responsible Leadership 2025 Tear Sheets" (10). Political giving is small and volatile — 87% to Democrats in 2024 on just $14,064, but 97% to Republicans in 2022 on $83,417 — with no consistent left lean, so it scored zero. A direct alternative to Dick's Sporting Goods, which we score 80/100.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Academy Sports + Outdoors woke?
Based on our research, Academy Sports + Outdoors has a woke score of 10/100, rated Mildly Woke on the BuyWokeFree index — based on its ESG, DEI, Pride sponsorship, HRC Corporate Equality Index, political donations, and CEO Action record.
What is the Academy Sports + Outdoors woke score?
Academy Sports + Outdoors has a woke score of 10 out of 100, categorized as Mildly Woke. This score is based on analysis of ESG initiatives, DEI programs, PRIDE sponsorships, HRC Corporate Equality Index rating, political contributions, and CEO Action for Diversity participation.
How does BuyWokeFree rate Academy Sports + Outdoors?
BuyWokeFree rates Academy Sports + Outdoors across six research dimensions: ESG initiatives, DEI programs, PRIDE sponsorships, HRC Corporate Equality Index rating, political contributions to left-leaning causes, and CEO Action for Diversity participation. The Academy Sports + Outdoors overall woke score is 10/100.
Evidence & Sources
About
Texas-based sporting goods and outdoor retailer with roughly 300 stores across the South and Midwest, selling hunting, fishing, camping and firearms alongside team sports gear — a direct rival to Dick's Sporting Goods and Bass Pro Shops.