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Women’s basketball is becoming increasingly more popular. Nearly 10 million viewers watched LSU & Iowa in the Women’s NCAA Title game in 2023, setting a new record for viewership for a women’s college basketball game. For context, the 2023 NBA Finals averaged 11.65 million viewers.
With the sport’s growing popularity and increased viewership, sneaker companies are doing more to promote the game, including signing women’s signature athletes.
The journey of WNBA players achieving signature basketball shoes began with a trailblazer. Sheryl Swoopes made history by becoming the first WNBA player to have a signature shoe—the Nike Air Swoopes 1. This milestone marked Swoopes’ prominence in the sport and paved the way for future women athletes to leave their mark through signature footwear.
Swoopes became the domino effect for brands and their signature female athletes, such Reebok Lobo for Rebecca Lobo, the Nike Total Air 9 for Lisa Leslie, the Nike Zoom S5 for Dawn Staley, and others. Decades later and the future is now as Puma and Nike lead the charge for the new era of WNBA signature athletes.
In this guide, we’ll delve into present WNBA players with signature basketball shoes.
Breanna Stewart
Signature Line: Puma Stewie
Breanna Stewart, a force to be reckoned with, showcases her dominance with the Puma Stewie line. These signature shoes reflect her tenacity and skill set, making them a favorite among players and fans alike. Notable colorways have touched on her career highlights, her love for the elements, an ode to her daughter, and more.
Puma Stewie 1 “Reintroduce”
The “Reintroduce” iteration has a minimal color palette with shades of beige and cream. The sneaker has a gum sole paired with neon on the rear, which nods to the debut “Quiet Fire” colorway. The upper has perforated details with a speckled pattern on the back half. Buy here.
Puma Stewie 1 “Four Time”
The pair honors Stewart’s history-making streak which includes securing four-straight NCAAW championships for the Huskies. The pair boasts a classic white, red, and blue color scheme as a nod to her alma mater. White is predominately featured on the pair’s perforated upper, while contrasting hits of bright red help outline the Puma sidestripe across the profiles. Buy here.
Puma Stewie 2 “Ruby”
The first release of the Stewie 2 was dedicated to her daughter, Ruby, and Stewie’ motherhood as Stewie embarks on another new journey in New York as a member of the Liberty. The colorway is dressed in a predominantly light red hue with a darker shade of red accompanying the pair. Buy here.
Puma Stewie 2 “Water”
Since the Stewie 1, Puma and the star forward have shown love to the elements through a series of colorways, with the “Water” Stewie 2 becoming the latest installment. A combination of baby blue, reflective silver details, and a darker shade of blue flow onto the pair continuing Stewie’s through the Mother Nature. Buy here.
Sabrina Ionescu
Signature Shoe: Nike Sabrina 1
Sabrina Ionescu, a dynamic guard for the New York Liberty, has captured the hearts of fans with her exceptional skills. Her signature shoe, the Nike Sabrina 1, embodies her versatility and style on the court. This shoe is designed to complement her playmaking abilities and boasts cutting-edge technology to enhance performance and comfort.
Nike Sabrina 1 “Ionic”
Using Romanian art and architecture as a design reference, this Nike Sabrina 1 showcases a special pattern on the forefoot and eyestay in colors of purple, silver, grey, and bone. The sneaker has a combination featuring full-length Nike React cushioning and Zoom Air unit in the forefoot for exceptional comfort and responsiveness. Buy here.
Nike Sabrina 1 “Spark”
The Nike Sabrina 1 “Spark” retains its signature special pattern on the forefoot, which is inspired by Ionescu’s Romanian heritage. The purple hue is featured predominately throughout while contrasting hits of black, yellow, and orange help accent the branding and design details. Buy here.
Nike Sabrina 1 “Apple Green”
The Nike Sabrina 1 “Apple Green” will be part of Ionescu’s new “TB” (Team Black) collection, dropping this fall, and pays homage to her earlier career at the University of Oregon. The titular hue is predominantly featured throughout the pair’s engineered mesh upper, while complementing white embroidery further elevates this offering. Rounding out the final design cues are the full-length Nike React cushioning and the Zoom Air unit in the forefoot. Buy here.
Elena Delle Donne
Signature Shoe: Nike Air Deldon 1
Elena Delle Donne, known for her finesse on the court, has her signature shoe in the form of the Nike Air Deldon 1. These shoes embody her unique playing style and are equipped with features that cater to the demands of the game.
Nike Air Deldon 1 “Lyme”
Inspired by her ongoing battle with Lyme Disease, the Deldon 1 uses a mix of mint mesh and leather on the upper with velcro featured on the medial and lateral sides for ease of access alongside Nike’s FlyEase technology. Buy here.
Nike Air Deldon 1 “WNBA Hoodie”
The shoe debuts the “safety orange” colorway with hints of citron and tint on the Swooshes, pull tabs, and lateral Nike branding. The sneaker features FlyEase technology allowing athletes of all capabilities to wear their shoes. Finishing touches include Nike’s latest Air Stroble to complete the design. Buy here.
Nike Air Deldon “Be True”
The shoe ports a vibrant outfit comprised of rainbow hues with a gradient upper, which also follows onto the matching insoles. Elsewhere, white is used on the straps, Swoosh cage, and midsole. The shoe is also equipped with FlyEase technology, Air Strobel, and special “Be True” branding. Buy here.
The rise of women’s basketball is intertwined with the emergence of signature basketball shoes for WNBA players.
From Sheryl Swoopes’ groundbreaking Nike Air Swoopes 1 to contemporary signatures like the Nike Sabrina 1, Puma Stewie line, and Nike Air Deldon 1, these shoes are more than just footwear—they represent the empowerment and recognition of women in sports.
As the sport continues to capture the hearts of fans worldwide, these signature shoes stand as a testament to the skill, dedication, and impact of WNBA players both on and off the court.
