The Big Apple showed up in droves for the New York Liberty at the team’s ticker-tape parade Thursday, celebrating the franchise’s first-ever WNBA championship. And, of course, the players arrived in style.

Jonquel Jones, the 2024 WNBA Finals Most Valuable Player, had a pair of MVP-caliber sneakers laced up: the Air Jordan 11 “Cool Grey.” And Jones is no stranger to having heat on her feet. She has her own iteration of the Nike KD 17, one inspired by the Bahamas where she was born and raised.

Sabrina Ionescu, one of the few WNBA players with a signature shoe franchise, also had coveted sneakers laced up. The sharpshooting guard had on the Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low “Medium Olive.” She also had on a shirt Liberty fans would undoubtedly love to get their hands on, one that read “Yerrrnescu,” a nod to the New York slang term “yerrr.”

As for Breanna Stewart, the now three-time WNBA champion, she opted for a custom Puma Speedcat OG. Stewart is also a signature athlete, aligning with Puma in 2021 on her Stewie franchise.

WNBA veteran Courtney Vandersloot — who is now a two-time champion — wore a women’s Nike Dunk Low to the parade, specifically the “White Bright Cactus” colorway.

Several other beloved Liberty players had great looks on foot, including Betnijah Laney-Hamilton (Adidas Nova IIInfinity), Ivana Dojkic (Adidas Campus 00s), Marquesha Davis (Air Jordan 12 “Barons”), Jaylyn Sherrod (Nike Dunk Low “Panda”), Kennedy Burke (Nike Dunk Low LX) and Kayla Thornton (New Balance 480).

And it wasn’t just the players who had great sneakers on. Ellie the Elephant, the beloved mascot of the New York Liberty, showed up in custom Nike Air Force 1s, dressed in the team’s seafoam hue with bright white midsoles.

The Liberty’s ticker-tape parade began at 10 a.m. ET on Thursday, traveling up the “Canyon of Heroes” along Broadway, ending at City Hall. And while at City Hall, the New York City Council announced that it had approved a resolution to make Oct. 20 the annual New York Liberty Day.

The Liberty defeated the Minnesota Lynx 67-62 in Game 5 of the 2024 WNBA Finals on Oct. 20, earning the team’s first-ever championship.

About the Author

Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.

Angel Reese is going to be wearing Reebok years to come.

Reebok and Reese have agreed to a multiyear contract extension for their partnership, the athletic brand announced Thursday. Their partnership began in October 2023, when Reese — then a college player at LSU — became Reebok’s first long-term name, image and likeness (NIL) signing.

Reebok could not confirm the terms of the deal with FN.

What’s more, Reebok confirmed Reese’s signature sneaker will release in 2026. Reebok confirmed Reese will be its second WNBA player to receive a signature shoe.

Reese — who plays for the Chicago Sky — recently discussed the shoe with NBA icon Shaquille O’Neal, the president of Reebok Basketball, on her Unapologetically Angel podcast.

“I’m extremely excited to let you guys know that we are officially coming out with a Reebok by Angel signature shoe,” she said on the show. “We’ve already kicked off the design process, and it means the world to me to have Reebok’s full support and confidence with this shoe and overall partnership. A signature shoe has always been a dream of mine, and I want all the young girls out there to remember that anything is possible.”

Reebok and Reese have been active since their partnership began. For instance, Reese debuted a new performance basketball shoe from the brand late in August, the Engine A, its first since the 2010s. And at the start of August, Reebok released Reese’s first-ever collaborative collection, dubbed Reebok by Angel, that featured three reimagined sneakers.

About the Author

Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.

The journey of designing and releasing a signature shoe is a long one. A’ja Wilson, whose Nike shoe is slated for a 2025 release, shared the joys and challenges of the process at a media event Monday.

The two-time WNBA champion was one of the featured guests during a series of discussions about all-things basketball, which took place at Nike’s headquarters in New York City. Wilson was joined on stage by Nike Inc. president of geographies and marketplace Craig Williams, as well as Kevin Durant and Jayson Tatum via Zoom. The conversation was moderated by ESPN and MSG basketball analyst Monica McNutt.

Among the topics discussed, the three-time WNBA Most Valuable Player shared the pressures that come with having a signature shoe.

“There is pressure when it comes to competing with other brands or just wanting to [have] the best shoe, but at the same time you don’t want the message to get lost, you don’t want the storytelling to get lost. That’s tough because there are a lot of great ideas,” Wilson said. “We have some dope shoes out there. You don’t want your shoe to be just another one. You want longevity, you want a shoe to have a name after a game you had, like the [Air Jordan 12] ‘Flu Game.’ That type of substance is a lot of pressure.”

She continued, “Sitting at the table with your team, having those hard conversations, that caught me by surprise. I thought they were going to be like, ‘Here’s a shoe, we’re just going to put your signature on it’ [Laughs.] But no, they were like, ‘We’re going to break it down,’ and I didn’t think I was ready for that, but now I am and I am so excited and thankful for my team.”

On stage, Wilson, too, shared the joys of being a signature athlete.

“It’s a blessing to me, honestly. It’s something that you dream of as a kid, like, ‘Oh, I get my shoe. Oh, my God, this is it.’ To see it coming to reality has been a lot of hard work, but also a lot of fun,” Wilson said. “I have an awesome team that is trying to put my weird words that I say into a shoe, which is great, because I’m like, ‘I want the thing that goes the thing,’ and then they’re like, ‘OK, we’ve got it.'”

She continued, “It’s unique to me because it’s a shoe that can do a lot. It’s a versatile shoe — anyone can wear it. It’s not a big man shoe, a big woman shoe. It’s going to be comfortable for everyone, and I hope everyone feels that.”

Nike announced in May that it was working with Wilson on a signature collection that would include a shoe, dubbed the A’One. A month later, the brand revealed her logo, which features a star in the “A” of her signature.

Speaking exclusively with FN in July, Wilson provided some insights about her A’One sneaker.

“When people look at my position in basketball, they think of a big-man shoe, a forward or center shoe. The A’One is not that. It is the complete opposite,” Wilson told FN. “It’s very versatile because that is my style of play. And I wanted a shoe that was going to be comfortable and durable for 40 minutes because the last thing I want to worry about on court are my shoes. And it’s a low top.”

About the Author

Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.

Less than a week after assuming control of Nike, president and CEO Elliott Hill has made his first public comments.

Shortly after the Swoosh announced it had extended its apparel and uniform contract with the WNBA, the NBA and the NBA G League on Monday, Hill was featured on a panel at Nike’s headquarters in New York City. He was joined by Sabrina Ionescu of the New York Liberty and NBA commissioner Adam Silver, as well as NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo via Zoom. The conversation was moderated by ESPN and MSG basketball analyst Monica McNutt.

During the panel, Hill — a company veteran of 32 years — discussed Nike’s evolving role in basketball, as well as potential barriers to progress.

Below is what Hill shared on stage at Nike’s NYC headquarters, edited for clarity.

On the New York Liberty’s WNBA Finals Win

“The Liberty fans, if there is such a thing as a sixth player, without question I think it was the Liberty fans. The atmosphere in the building last night [Oct. 20] was electric, it was loud, it was fun, it was real. There’s no question in my mind they helped will them to victory.”

Nike’s Role in the Growth of Basketball

“For the last 50-plus years, Nike has been very much about putting the athlete at the center of the conversation. That helps drive the innovation around product and storytelling, etc., so we’ll continue to do that. Nike has always been about growth and growing sport around the world, and when we do that, we grow the industry, we make the industry bigger, and we’ll continue to do that. As it relates to our partnership, it’s very much in the same vein. We’re going to put the athlete — whether it’s the elite athlete or the everyday athlete or the fan — at the center and try to extend the game of basketball beyond the elite athlete to grassroots, men’s, women’s, boys, girls, different formats, three-on-three. You can go down the list. International is a big piece of how we grow the game of basketball, and it is at the core of what we continue to talk about. And I would add moving beyond just on court to lifestyle and the culture of basketball, it’s a tremendous opportunity for both of us to continue to grow the game of basketball.”

Barriers to Progress

“Sometimes we set our own barriers. We talk a lot about human potential at Nike. We all see the potential of the game, and I think we inadvertently maybe set some some of the boundaries around it. I think we — and I speak of our two companies and the partnership we have and all the brands that we have here — have to treat ourselves much like an athlete, and to continue to push ourselves to think differently, to get better, to put that athlete and that consumer at the center of everything that we do. If we can do that, we’ll come up with new and interesting ways to celebrate the game, move the game forward and I think help grow the game globally.”

About the Author

Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.

Nike has extended its contract with the WNBA, the NBA and the NBA G League to become their official apparel and uniform provider through 2037.

The Swoosh on Monday announced that it has signed a 12-year extension of the deal that includes merchandising, outfitting, marketing and content partnerships. The deal will also include a new joint membership program for fans across the leagues and an investment in programs to make basketball and athletics more accessible to youth of all backgrounds.

The announcement came that day after The New York Liberty won their first WNBA championship against the Minnesota Lynx.

“Nike has always been more than a league sponsor — we’re a strategic partner with an unwavering commitment to growing the game, alongside the NBA, WNBA and NBA G League,” says Nike’s newly appointed president and chief executive officer Elliott Hill in a statement. “Our collective power, global reach and genuine love for the game will only continue to create new pathways and opportunities for players and fans.”

The deal renews a similar eight-year deal that Nike struck with the NBA for the 2017-18 season that made it the league’s official on-court outfitter. Nike has been a marketing partner of the WNBA since 1997 and of the NBA G League since the 2017-18 season.

“Since our league’s inception, Nike has committed to a shared vision for girls and women’s basketball,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert in a statement. “Our continued partnership is an opportunity to fortify avenues for development and enhance touchpoints across our dynamic fanbase while globally showcasing the WNBA.”

The new deal will see Nike grow its presence at key events such as the NBA Global Games, NBA All-Star, WNBA All-Star, the NBA Draft Combine, the WNBA Draft, WNBA Changemakers and more. Nike also extended its group license agreement with National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) to become an official partner of the group.

“This partnership extension reflects our enduring commitment to growing the game, championing basketball culture and supporting the next generation of athletes,” said Jordan Brand president Sarah Mensah in a statement. “We put athletes, and the game, at the center of all we do, and this extension serves to further galvanize hoopers behind a shared pursuit of greatness as only Nike, Inc. and our partners can.”

Sabrina Ionescu hit the biggest shot of her career, and arguably of New York Liberty history, on Wednesday night.

With the game tied 77-77, Ionescu pulled up from nearly half court at the Target Center in Minnesota with three seconds left and drained a three-pointer, securing in Game 3 of the 2024 WNBA Finals for the Liberty. With the 80-77 win, New York has a 2-1 series lead over the Minnesota Lynx.

To hit the game-winning shot, Ionescu had her Nike Sabrina 2 signature shoe laced up in a colorway inspired by the her college team, the Oregon Ducks. The look was predominantly dressed in the green hue that’s synonymous with her alma mater, with white consuming most of the midsole and hits of yellow throughout.

In terms of tech, Nike designed the Sabrina 2 with plush Cushlon 3.0 foam midsoles that are contained within a firmer Cushlon foam carrier, as well as a Nike Zoom Air unit in the forefoot for energy return and responsiveness. Also, there are rubber outsoles underfoot with a new “S”-inspired herringbone pattern for multidirectional traction.

The Nike Sabrina 2 “Oregon Ducks” is slated to release this fall. Several other colorways of the shoe are available now via Nike.com that retail for $130.

Ionescu and the Liberty will look to close out the series with the Lynx — and win the franchise’s first-ever WNBA title — on Friday night at the Target Center. Game time is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET and will air on ESPN.

About the Author

Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.

When it comes to athlete partnerships, New Balance aims for quality over quantity.

“We take an approach of ‘fewer, bigger, better’ when we’re signing partnerships,” said Naveen Lokesh, New Balance’s head of global sports marketing for basketball and football, during a session at the 2024 CEO Summit hosted by The Wharton School’s Baker Retailing Center and RLC Global Forum on Tuesday. “We want to sign fewer partnerships and market them in a bigger way by telling the best stories.”

When it came to signing its first women’s basketball player, Cameron Brink, New Balance spent two years watching the athlete play — and did a deep analysis into how her social media following could be additive to the brand’s appeal among Gen Z and Gen Alpha consumers. This due diligence paid off once New Balance started to see the impact of the partnership in real time.

“Our fourth most engaging post of our social-owned platforms was when Cameron Brink got drafted into the WNBA back in May,” Lokesh said. “And those numbers were easy numbers to share within our organization to say ‘this is working.'”

New Balance also did A/B product testing that found a 22 percent lift in engagement when a post featured Cameron Brink. When adding the WNBA marks, posts saw another 10 percent lift in engagement. Internally, New Balance’s product teams have also benefitted from being able to get Brink’s input on product design. And retail partners like Foot Locker have been excited about having more WNBA representation from the brands they work with.

“That was a huge validation for us and a mix of ROIs,” Lokesh said.

A year after signing its deal with Brink, New Balance deepened its partnership with the WNBA this past July and signed a multiyear deal that establishes the brand as the official partner of the league. This sequence of events — from specific athlete partnership to broader deal with a league — highlights the New Balance’s “athlete first” approach to entering a sport, as was the case with the signing of Coco Gauff, New Balance’s first female partner in the tennis space.

“Once we find [the athlete] as our foundation, we look to the leagues as amplification tools,” Lokesh said, adding that New Balance plans to enter more league partnerships in the future, building off its athlete stories.

“For New Balance, it’s really about telling authentic stories in order to reach our new consumer base,” he said.

Update: Oct. 3, 2024

Less than a month after earning 2024 Associated Press WNBA Rookie of the Year honors, Caitlin Clark was named 2024 Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year.

The Indiana Fever guard was announced by the WNBA as the winner on Thursday, receiving 66 votes from a national panel of 67 sportswriters and broadcasters. Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky received one vote.

With Clark winning the award, Indiana now has back-to-back winners, with Aliyah Boston winning in 2023. Clark is the third Indiana player to win the award, the first being Tamika Catchings in 2002.

On its Nike Basketball and Nike Women accounts on Instagram, the athletic giant congratulated Clark in a post captioned “The collection keeps growing,” followed by a list of her accolades this season. The list was so long that Nike had to add more in the comment section.

What’s more, Nike has added a T-shirt commemorating Clark’s award win on Nike.com, which retails for $40.

What We Originally Reported on Sept. 22, 2024

After a stellar first season in the league, Caitlin Clark was named 2024 Associated Press WNBA Rookie of the Year.

The Indiana Fever guard earned the honor unanimously, the AP announced Sunday afternoon. With the honor, Clark is now the team’s second player to win the award, the first being her teammate Aliyah Boston in 2023.

What’s more, Clark was also named to the AP All-WNBA First Team and the AP All-Rookie Team.

As a rookie, Clark led the league in several statistical categories, including three-point field goals made (3.1 per game), assists (337) and assists per game (8.4 per game). She led all rookies in points (769) and points per game (769), as well as steals (53) and steals per game (1.3).

What’s more, with 337 assists on the season, she now holds the single-season assist record. On Sept. 13 against the Las Vegas Aces, she broke the record of 316, which was previously held by Alyssa Thomas of the Connecticut Sun. (Thomas also beat her previous record this season, and ended the 2024 regular season with 317.)

For all of these moments, Clark wore eye-catching Nike Kobe basketball shoes, whether it was a coveted colorway that once hit retail or a player edition (PE). Here are five from the hooper’s first season in the WNBA.

WNBA Debut

Clark made her WNBA regular season debut on May 14, 2024 against the Connecticut Sun. For her first game as a pro, the rookie has the Nike Kobe 6 Protro “Grinch” laced up.

Assists Record

Clark added another accolade to her impressive rookie season on Sept. 13. While facing the Las Vegas Aces, she set the new WNBA single-season assists record, getting her 317th assist during the second quarter. On her feet, Clark had a PE of the Nike Kobe 6 Protro laced up. The look, which she has worn on the court before, was predominantly gray and white with hits of light blue throughout.

WNBA All-Star

For her first WNBA All-Star Game, Clark had on a special pair of Nike Kobe 6 Protro sneakers that were previously teased on Instagram by Kobe Bryant’s wife, Vanessa Bryant, that were created specifically for the event. The Nike Kobe 6 “WNBA All-Star” PE was executed in a bright red and green colorway.

First PE

In late July, Clark debuted her first Nike Kobe PE during an Indiana Fever practice, a Nike Kobe 5 Protro in the black and gold hues of her alma matter, the University of Iowa.

Another PE for the Star Rookie

For a mid-September matchup against the Aces, Clark had on an eye-catching Nike Kobe 6 Protro PE. The yellow hues used throughout made this stand out, as well as the black and yellow gradient on the uppers.

About the Author

Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.

The WNBA semifinals are in full swing, and all eyes are on the two-time defending champion Las Vegas Aces and its reigning league MVP A’ja Wilson. While millions of fans are tuning in to see the action on the court, attention is also on the famed WNBA tunnel and the shoes worn for their arrival.

The Aces official Instagram account often highlights the basketball stars’ grand entrances ahead of the games on the platform, and Wilson has been known to turn heads with her fashion-forward outfits. The images are a collaboration between the Aces and Ally, who have partnered to give fans an exclusive look at the players’ ever-evolving tunnel style—and proving that the athletes are making an impact when it comes to style.

Ally Financial is a digital financial service company that provides financial products through automotive finance operations, insurance operations and more. “When it comes to fashion on the court, A’ja and her teammates are sporting a new brand this season—Ally,” the company said in a statement to FN. “Ally, a financial services company known for its relentless pursuit to drive investment in women’s sports, became the first-ever official retail banking partner and jersey patch sponsor of the Las Vegas Aces this season.”

Some of Wilson’s most memorable looks recently have been by Sergio Hudson from the designer’s fall 2024 Collection. She wore a bright red suit that consisted of a bustier stretch wool crepe fitted jacket and matching pants when she was named as the WNBA’s 2024 WNBA Most Valuable Player. The basketball star, who was recently included in FN’s list of most stylish WNBA stars, paired the look with understated beige pointed-toe pumps, and after her speech, she posed for photos showing off her look while holding her trophy.

To kick off the first round of the WNBA playoffs, Wilson once again chose a design by Sergio Hudson. She wore a denim and leather combo bustier midi dress, similar to one from last season. The dress featured a gold zipper going down the center, that opened slightly above the knee.

The opening revealed a pair of Fritz knee-high boots by Smash Shoes, which is a brand that focuses on extended sizes. The Fritz boot is available in a range of colors and feature a Lycra stretch material that wraps around the leg, and has a slightly squared toe.

After losing their game against the New York Liberty on Oct. 1, the Aces are now on the brink of elimination but rest assured, Wilson and her teammates will continue serving on and off the court. The teams will face off again for Game 3 on Oct. 4 at 9:30 p.m. ET.

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The Most Stylish WNBA Players of 2024 [Photos]

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A’ja Wilson is the 2024 WNBA MVP.

On Sunday, the league announced the Las Vegas Aces star was unanimously named the 2024 Kia WNBA Most Valuable Player, receiving all 67 first-place votes from the national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. She is just the second player in WNBA history to unanimously win the award, the first being Cynthia Cooper of the Houston Comets in 1997.

This is the third time Wilson has won the award, also earning it in 2020 and 2022. Aside from Wilson, only three players have won the award three times in their career: Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie and Lauren Jackson.

Wilson broke multiple WNBA records en route to her MVP nod, including the single-season scoring record and the single-season rebound record. What’s more, on Sept. 15 against the Connecticut Sun, Wilson became the first player in WNBA history to score 1,000 points in a single season.

She averaged 26.9 points and 2.58 blocked shots per game this season, ranked first in the league for both, as well as 11.9 rebounds (ranked second in the league).

Wilson also had plenty of shoe stories both on and off the court in 2024. For instance, Nike announced the two-time WNBA champion as its next signature athlete in May, and that her forthcoming signature sneaker, the A’One, will release in 2025. When the Nike A’One releases, Wilson will be the first Black woman with a signature basketball shoe since Adidas launched its last look for Candace Parker in 2011, the Ace Versatility.

Also, Wilson wore several player edition (PE) Nike LeBron shoes on the court. During WNBA All-Star Weekend in July, the athlete shared the backstory for several of her exclusive looks. Here’s what Wilson had to say, edited for clarity.

Nike LeBron 21 “Indigo” PE

“My purple LeBron 21 PEs, I love this because I was always called the indigo child, one that’s real creative and thinks outside the box. So anytime I rock purple on the court, I think that tells that story through my shoe. And I love these. It’s the perfect little shade of purple.”

Nike LeBron NXXT Gen

“I wore these in a championship game, these are my playoff shoes. I’ve been the type to never wear the same shoe over and over again, but these shoes I cannot throw away. They are my old reliables. I feel like my insoles have a hole in them. They got a lot of buckets in them shoes. When it’s time to get buckets, I always wear those.”

Nike LeBron 21 “Ring Night” PE

“These are my ring night ceremony shoes. They’re nice little iridescent, the shiny silver with a chrome and gold Swoosh. Can’t go wrong. It signifies our rings, the back-to-back championships.”

Nike LeBron 21 “Hattie Rakes” PE

“These are my grandma PEs, they’re the Hattie Rakes LeBron 21 PEs. A lot of people know my relationship with my grandmother, so I had to give her shoe because she has just inspired me so much to be the person and the player that I am today.”

Nike LeBron 21 “Crushed Velvet” PE

“The little crushed velvet, red and pink. I love these because I’ve never seen a colorway like this on a shoe before, and they have the gum bottoms, and I love me a good gum bottom. This was a little thinking outside the box, and I feel like I never really saw a shoe with this type of texture in basketball. I love a good, fun shoe.”

Nike LeBron 21 “Pink Chrome” PE

“Now this shoe here, my pink chromes, top tier when you talk about a shoe. Pink is my favorite color, and I feel like I love this type of shoe because when I wear it you automatically know it’s me on court because that’s all you see, my hot pink shoes.”

Nike LeBron 21 “Static Shock” PE

“This shoe here, top tier, top notch shoe. It’s my ‘Static Shock’ LeBron 21 shoe. It is one of my favorite shoes I’ve ever worn because I grew up watching ‘Static Shock.’ He was amazing, put a shock to your system. The Swoosh on the shoe has lightning bolts going around it, I think that was a great touch. I think that is the best PE we’ve ever put together, and I’m thankful for it.”

Nike LeBron 21 “Polka Dot” PE

“Now my polka dots, it’s a nice little twist because it kind of signifies the art gallery that I have in South Carolina. I never really saw a shoe with polka dots on so you can identify with me on the court. Watch us play, but also watch my heat on feet, because that’s what I got.”

About the Author

Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.