Is It Time for a New Women’s Basketball Signature Sneaker?

The fear of women not wearing sneakers is no longer a valid deterrent from marketing a shoe bearing a woman’s name. With an ever-increasing female presence in the sneaker culture, having a shoe from a peer, a comrade, or a relatable entity would be a welcome advancement.

“Everybody is a sneakerhead these days,” Jones emphatically states. “The culture is changing. Women are wearing sneakers. I remember there was a time when women wouldn’t wear sneakers that often. Now that women are wearing them on a regular basis, I think people will wear a women’s shoe.”

Nike announced the signing of (l to r) Skylar Diggins, Elena Delle Donne, and Brittney Griner

It was nearly a forgone conclusion that Delle Donne, Griner, and Diggins were going to be the first three picks in the 2013 WNBA draft well before their senior years were over. Their collective stardom had reached a point where it arguably surpassed their male counterparts. Can you undoubtedly name who will be the top three picks of the upcoming NBA Draft? The names of these three women hold weight that is only comparable to when the WNBA first allocated 16 of the best women basketball players on the planet to their eight respective teams prior to its inaugural season in 1997.

“With the entry of Skylar, Brittney, and Delle Donne, everybody is excited about this now. I think Nike needs to look at that,” Wright implores. “They need to expand this league. It’s what we [women basketball players] know. That’s what makes us. It’s our brand. We don’t have the NBA or MLB-type TV time or revenue. In order to sell the product, you have to generate excitement.” In terms of the ‘Big 3,’ Wright says, “people were talking a lot about Brittney Griner [in college], but that’s talking about women’s basketball. It was on ESPN. It was on the ticker. Skylar Diggins was on the ticker. Delle Donne was on the ticker. They were getting that. We need that stuff.”

Jones agrees. “I think these three [Griner, Delle Donne, Diggins] are going to be huge for the league, and huge for women’s basketball at every level. There are girls growing up now saying they want to be Skylar Diggins, Delle Donne, or Brittney Griner. So, I think it would give younger girls something to look forward to. They would definitely want to wear their shoes.”

Fans have unmatched access to players on their field of play

Basketball is the one sport that a player has the opportunity to showcase their shoes. The proximity of fans and complete facial exposure are two elements that make the fans’ perceived relationship with basketball players a bit more intimate. Players are tangible. They are real-life beings that can be mimicked, and their styles can be replicated. This is the importance of a female signature. There is no shortage of basketball shoes on the current market. Finding a shoe that suits your specific needs, though tedious, is not impossible. It’s deeper than that.

As Wright puts it, “when we used to read SLAM magazines, the shoes were what you were looking forward to seeing, you know? Our (female) shoes were in there back then, but now you don’t have that. It’s obviously a male dominated sport, but we own the right do something and have something to talk about.”  Jones adds, “A women’s signature would be big for women’s basketball, and for women period.”

Skylar Diggins Nike Zoom Soldier VII and Kobe System PEs

You may still wonder if it truly makes a difference, or if there is any substantial significance due to the recent decline in WNBA interest. Wright disagrees. “The women’s game has always been there. People have watched it, but I think more people will tune in now because of the names.”  She suggests, “Adding to that would be good. I don’t think girls would wear it just because it’s a women’s shoe, but that it would be popular. Skylar Diggins wears that shoe? I want it. Brittney Griner wears that? I want it. That’s what it’s going to be.”

Before dismissing the idea of wearing a sneaker with a woman’s name in the description, remember sports are inclusive. Sports are diverse. More importantly, sports are a microcosm of life, and there is more than enough room on shelves, on courts, on the street, in our closets, and in our hearts for the women to shine on a large scale. NBA players often wear other NBA players’ sneakers. We think it is time we see WNBA players’ lacing up signatures from their colleagues. The question is not if it will it happen, but rather who will receive her signature sneaker first.