5.3 C
New York
Monday, January 13, 2025

Today’s WNBA Legends Are Changing Sneaker Culture | SLAM!


The WNBA has long been loaded with stars, and if we’re being completely real, these women just might was selling units in the sneaker space for years. The player’s exclusive shots were great on the court, but not as accessible to the everyday fan as the signature shoe.

So brands adapted. With an impeccable roster headlined by Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi and Jewel Lloyd, Nike began releasing its player exclusive colorways to the public.

Bird and Loyd, each known for their affinity for Kyrie Irving’s former Nike signature shoe, hit the market with a number of colorways, with Bird leading the “Keep Sue Fresh” collection that featured Kyrie From 4 Low to Kyrie Infinity.

In Phoenix, DT started replicating Bron’s signature line, from the LeBron 9 and LeBron X to the LeBron 19, he even put together an extensive Mercury colorway collection of LeBron PEs, including the LeBron 18 “La Cabra” which means THE GOAT in Spanish.

In Washington, six-time All-Star Elena Delle Donne paid tribute with a spin on her PE, a Swoopes I-inspired colorway of the 2017 Nike Hyperdunk 2017, alongside a steady stream of KD 12s. But at the end of the 2019 season, Delle Donne flipped the script, choosing to wear a lace-up model, the Nike Air Zoom UNVRS. Built on the brand’s newest technology, the Flyease provided wearers with a hands-free, easy-to-access design geared toward those with disabilities. The latter would serve as a three-year smoke signal to come.

In October 2022, Nike and Elena Delle Donner officially released the Nike Air Deldon. While the high-end model wasn’t specifically marketed as a special offer, the silhouette was as close to one as you could get. Built with Flyease technology at its core, the Air Deldon was inspired by the two-time MVP’s younger sister Lizzy, who is disabled. The model represented several aspects of Dell Donne’s personal journey, detailing his battle with Lyme disease in one colorful way, while joining Nike’s BE TRUE initiative, which signals the LGBTQIA+ community with the help of the rainbow.

Then there’s Sabrina Ionescu. Before the legend of Caitlin Clark emerged, Ionescu captivated the nation in college, breaking national and school records at the University of Oregon with a flashy style of play and an unstoppable streak.

Standing on the shoulders of legends before her, Nike announced that Ionescu will become the eighth female athlete in Nike basketball history. 17 years later, The Swoosh was fully back in the women’s game, and they flooded Sabrina’s business with support. An extensive marketing campaign, a full release schedule that included more than a dozen colorways, a full unisex apparel collection, and complex stories were woven throughout the model.

Billed as the first unisex basketball shoe, the Nike Sabrina 1 sold out the first handful of colorways in late summer. Then things took things to another level when the model was added to Nike’s customizable Nike By You platform. With layers of detailed fabrics, seams and panels, the Sabrina 1 unleashed the platform’s full potential, allowing fans of the already-lauded silhouette to create their own 1-of-1 versions.

The custom Nike Sabrina 1 took social media by storm in the following months, with creators taking inspiration from their favorite colorways of iconic models from the past, such as the “Bruce Lee” Kobe 5. Some samples even remained and were copied en masse, such as the caption called “”. What The” color. inspired by Nike Basketball’s mid-2010s line, which took every colorway from one iconic shoe and put it together in one loud, expressive and surprisingly cohesive ensemble.

From the W and the NBA to men’s and women’s college basketball and the G-League, the Nike Sabrina 1 is gaining popularity. As soon as the 2023-24 season ended, the low-top model quickly became a Nike-approved staple for many NBA players, as Mikal Bridges, Jalen Brunson, Tyler Herro and others adapted their own PEs at a breakneck pace. the

This time, Sabrina’s sneakers will not be alone. he confirmed during this year’s New York Liberty training camp that his second signing is currently in the works.

And then there’s the long-awaited announcement of the Nike A’One. As the first black woman to receive a signature shoe since Cheryl Swoope, Aja Wilson continues to cement her legacy as not only a great player, but one that deserves the most recognition and respect. After headlining the Nike Cosmic Unity last season and debuting the royal black and gold LeBron 21 PE during the 2023 Finals, two-time WNBA champion and New York Times best-selling author Aja Wilson is set for an insanely bright future, and The A’One’s arrival in spring 2025 was met with the highest level of marketing; Wilson is installed a show where he wore an iconic hat that read: Of course I have Shoe Dot Com With the inscription “The answer to the question”. It was as iconic as Wilson and his illustrious career.

Not only are Wilson and Nike releasing signature sneakers, but the two-time WNBA champion and MVP has been working on a full apparel collection and signature slides for a year now. She was heavily involved in every step of the process, consistently checking the brand and recommending satin covers so women wouldn’t have to wear a hat on travel days.

As for other stars, in the summer of 2021, Jordan Brand announced the largest female roster in the brand’s history, signing Dearica Hamby, Satou Sabally, Jordin Canada, Aerial Powers, Te’a Cooper, Crystal Dangerfield , Arella Guirantes and Chelsea Dungee. Joining an established core of Kia Nurse and Asia Durr, Jumpman went out and put pen to paper with Ryan Howard, Dana Evans, Isabelle Harrison and Gabby Williams over the next year and a half.

Carrying on the legacy of the retired Moore, Jordan’s revamped roster of athletes has brought a fresh perspective to the brand’s once reserved approach to the women’s game. Player Exclusive colors have flooded the WNBA hardwoods as a result. Kia Nurse’s Toronto Raptors-treated Tatum 1, Satou Sabally’s international-inspired Air Jordan 37, and Isabelle Harrison’s butterfly-covered Jordan Luka 2 pay homage to her late sister, each extrapolating to their respective athletes. the trips. In turn, sneaker blogs and team social media accounts have begun to add another element of storytelling to the WNBA atmosphere.

While the custom silhouette and exclusive colorways continue to grab the headlines, both Nike and Jordan have been developing their next-gen counterparts in the background with new features introduced by NIL. Addressing the selectivity of their starting lineup, Nike signed reigning Nationals freshman Juju Watkins, former AP Player of the Year Paige Bukers and high school sophomore Jerzy Williams to NIL deals.

In the same area, Jordan Brand signed guard Kiomi McMiller from Rutgers, SEC Freshman of the Year Mikayla Williams from LSU and UCLA point guard Kiki Rice.

Although it hasn’t been officially announced yet, Caitlin Clarke has reportedly signed an endorsement deal with The Swoosh as well. Clark was one of the brand’s first NIL signings before his senior year at Iowa State.

This is just the beginning, and with investment, attention to detail and unwavering support for women’s basketball, the renaissance continues.

Feeling nostalgic? Here’s a history lesson on how past WNBA legends paved the way for sneakers.





Source link

Related Articles

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -

Latest Articles

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -