Jordan Brand just added four young NBA ballers to its athlete roster.

The namesake brand of NBA icon Michael Jordan announced via Instagram late Friday that it has welcomed rookies Jared McCain, Dalton Knecht, Stephon Castle and Ja’Kobe Walter to its family. “Signed. Sealed. Now We Deliver,” the caption announcing the signings read.

Terms of their deals, however, were not revealed.

McCain was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 16th pick in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft. The 6-foot-3 guard played college basketball at Duke. During both the preseason and the regular season, McCain has worn the Air Jordan 39, which NBA star Paolo Banchero debuted during the 2023-24 NBA Playoffs in April.

As for Knecht, he was selected with the 17th pick by the Los Angeles Lakers. He is a 6-foot-6 guard who played for Tennessee in college. Knecht has laced up the Air Jordan 39 and the Luka 2 during the preseason and regular season.

Castle, a 6-foot-6 guard who played college hoops at UConn, was selected No. 4 overall by the San Antonio Spurs. During the preseason and into the regular season, Castle has worn the Air Jordan 39 and the Tatum 2.

Walter was selected No. 19 overall by the Toronto Raptors. The 6-foot-5 guard played college basketball at Baylor. Walter has been sidelined to start the season with an injury.

The four promising young hoopers are now part of a stacked Jordan Brand roster of athletes that includes top-tier NBA talent, such as Jayson Tatum, Luka Dončić, Zion Williamson and others.

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.

DJ Clark Kent, an icon in the worlds of hip-hop and sneakers, has died.

“It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of the beloved Rodolfo A. Franklin, known to the world as DJ Clark Kent,” a statement shared Friday on his Instagram read. “Clark passed away Thursday evening surrounded by his devoted wife Kesha, daughter Kabriah and son Antonio.”

The statement continued, “Clark quietly and valiantly fought a three year battle with Colon Cancer, while continuing to share his gifts with the world. The family is grateful for everyone’s love, support and prayers during this time and ask for privacy as they process this immense loss.”

Franklin — known as “God’s Favorite DJ” — produced countless hits for rap icons, including Jay-Z, The Notorious B.I.G., Rakim and The Fugees, among countless others. His accolades in footwear, too, were remarkable.

Aside from being a go-to expert for all things sneakers and sneaker culture, he was a top-tier collaborator. His collabs included coveted work with Nike (including the “112” pack, which he told FN in 2019 was his proudest work in sneakers), as well as New Balance and K-Swiss. He also was responsible for multiple avant garde collaborations, including the iC1 sneaker he created with mattress company Serta in 2019 and his luxury take on the classic Adidas Forum High with audio software company Serato in 2022.

In an email sent to FN, Nike offered a statement on the passing of the sneaker legend.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of our dear friend and true cultural icon, DJ Clark Kent. At Nike, we were honored to collaborate with Clark on projects that celebrated not only his deep love for sneakers but also his unwavering dedication to pushing creative boundaries and elevating culture. His impact on the world of sneakers is beyond measure, with an influence that spans the globe and generations. Clark’s legacy will forever inspire future talent, leaving a lasting mark on our industry. Our hearts go out to Clark’s family, friends, and all those touched by his extraordinary talent, passion, and kindness. His presence will be greatly missed,” the brand said via statement.

Amid the celebrations for hip-hop’s 50th anniversary in August 2023, streetwear legend and Walker Wear founder April Walker spoke with FN about DJ Clark Kent, and said he’s one of the most influential people ever when it comes to sneakers.

“His passion for kicks culture has always been authentic. Clark Kent is from the early days, and he’s had such staying power. He’s been a tastemaker when it comes to kicks. His passion for sneakers has always been consistent, his voice has always been consistent, and you feel his authenticity. That energy creates confirmation in the culture, in the kick game,” Walker told FN. “He has served and consulted companies, and if you look at his social media game, we can all see how passionate he is and lends his voice to what he believes in for sneakers. That authenticity will always be the staying power. And the Air Force 1, it has just stood the test of time, and I give Clark credit for amplifying it. There are so many people who wear Air Force 1s, but Clark, it’s part of his uniform.”

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 sun is setting on Vasque, but not before releasing one more boot to keep outdoor enthusiasts out on the trail.

Available now is the Horizon, a boot Vasque stated was designed for casual hikers who want athletic-inspired comfort “without sacrificing traditional trail protection.” Vasque created the boot with low and mid heights, and is available in both women’s and men’s sizing.

Vasque built the Horizon with sustainable materials, including 60 percent recycled content in the heel counters and 50 percent recycled linings. Also, the boot’s energy-returning EVA midsoles are made with 20 percent sugarcane.

The boots also feature waterproof nubuck leather upper, as well as the brand’s VasqueDry waterproofing technology, durable rubber outsoles, comfort-focused open-cell PU insoles and reflective details for added visibility.

The Vasque Horizon is available now in a low for $130 and a mid for $140 via Vasque.com. Once the Vasque website shutters, the boots will be available via the Irish Setter website.

Red Wing Shoe Co. confirmed via email with FN on Oct. 11 that it immediately stop new product development, marketing and purchasing for Vasque. Also, it stated any open orders scheduled to ship before January 2025 will be fulfilled, and all spring 2025 orders will be cancelled.

“What consumers seek and how they want to both shop and buy has changed dramatically,” a statement from Red Wing Shoe Co. emailed to FN read. “These changes have forced us to re-evaluate our business proposition and opportunity.”

The statement continued, “This is not a decision that we took lightly. In fact, we evaluated many possible strategic paths. In the end, however, we do not believe that there is a viable path forward. With limited resources, we believe it is best for us to focus on the incredible opportunities we see in our core business and brands at Red Wing Shoe Company.”

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 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.

OrthoLite has hired Raj Santhana as vice president of operational excellence.

Santhana, who is part of OrthoLite’s global operations management team, will be responsible for manufacturing excellence and innovation in his new role, as well as automation and digital transformation. The leading insole manufacturer also stated Santhana will work with its Global Foam Innovation Team in a new satellite office, which is located in Singapore.

Most recently, Santhana served as the global head of quality at Bata in Singapore. Before Bata, he was at Adidas for more than seven years, ending his time with the Three Stripes as its director of quality footwear forVietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar.

“In addition to his vast expertise in the footwear industry, Raj holds two engineering degrees and he will be critical to driving operational excellence programs for our global team of 3,200 people at OrthoLite’s owned manufacturing facilities around the world,” OrthoLite chief operating officer Richard Bevan said in a statement.

Aside from Santhana, OrthoLite announced another personnel move, the promotion of Shaw Kiat Phua to vice president of global foaming. In this role, the company stated he will lead the strategic direction for OrthoLite PU material development with a focus on sustainable innovations in footwear, and will continue to report to Bevan.

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.

Though Bad Bunny and Leo Messi are modern superstars, their collaborative collection with Adidas is inspired by products of times past.

On Monday, after leaks circulated on social media, Adidas has revealed the highly-anticipated upcoming project between the hitmaker and the soccer icon. The collection is inspired from Adidas heritage models, materials and colorways, and features two silhouettes: the Gazelle, a favorite of Bad Bunny, and the F50 cleat, which Messi has long worn on the pitch.

Both silhouettes include Bad Bunny and Messi’s signatures on the Three Stripe branding, which Adidas said symbolizes “their mutual respect and enduring legacy,” as well as the inscription “Bad Bunny Para Messi” on the tongue. Also, they feature both the brand’s Trefoil and Badge of Sport logos.

Adidas also employed gold hues, which serve as a nod to the Ballon d’Or, the award given to soccer’s best player that Messi has won several times, as well as an “X” stripe heel that references his No. 10 jersey number.

“Messi’s last name has become its own word, a synonym for greatness, courage and heart,” Bad Bunny said in a statement. “Watching him play with the passion he does is a privilege. I compare the love he feels for his country and his sport to the love I feel for music and Puerto Rico. Collaborating with him is an honor that so many people dream of and I never even imagined I could achieve it. Today, I feel so grateful to be able to represent our culture with the GOAT.”

Speaking with FN, design director of Adidas collaborations and partnerships Raf Mayorga — who is the design director for the Bad Bunny partnership — offered insight into the packaging the collaboration will come in.

“When we went to the archive with the Bunny team last year, there’s an archive for even our boxes. Everything is archived,” Mayorga told FN. “We saw this beautiful box from the ’60s or ’70s that had Adidas punched out on the side and thought that’s a cool detail to bring into our new packaging approach. And all of the apparel are hung in these really cool Tyvek bags. So how do we bring the archive to the consumer? To the Bad Bunny fan? That’s why there’s his interpretation of a Tyvek bag in the in the packaging, as a hint to the archive.”

Adidas is opening sign-ups to purchase the collection on Oct. 21 via the Confirmed and Adidas apps, and it will be available in Adidas flagship stores on Oct. 26.

New Design Language

Teaming up with Messi isn’t the lone reason Bad Bunny’s latest collaboration with Adidas looks a bit different. In fact, the artist’s past few collabs have offered fans a glimpse at what future projects with the Three Stripes will look like.

“As Benito’s music continues to evolve, his level of artistry gets pushed in different directions, and we’re there to capture his voice with where he’s going creatively. Ultimately, it boils down to he’s evolving, so we evolve as well,” Mayorga explained. “What he wants to say, the stories he wants to shine a light on through his music, through his craft, we do the same on the footwear side.”

This includes, according to Mayorga, the reduced use of the eyeball on the collaborations and the phasing out of the bunny logo. Instead, Bad Bunny is opting for “cleaner” identifiers, such as a wordmark.

The wordmark approach was first seen in June, when “Gazelle” was replaced with “San Juan” on the lateral side of the tonal blue Gazelle Indoor “San Juan” collaboration, and then again in September when “Benito” replaced “Gazelle” on the off-white iteration of the shoe.

“We are keeping some of the design markers, the double tongue and things like that, and flipping things and putting things where they shouldn’t be,” Mayorga said. “And we have a few little hidden features on the shoe. We have an updated bandera label, as we’re calling it, on the top tongue. Also, when we take an existing Adidas element of the shoe, we flip it and try to give it a new context. It’s the subtleties that we that we look for. There are little twists and turns to the product that hint at the Bad Bunny partnership.”

Although he stated there’s not much he could share about upcoming Bad Bunny collaborations, Mayorga offered a few hints as to what potentially could be ahead for 2025.

“What you’ll probably see are his fingerprints and his twist on things without actually showing you. You’ll see us going into different categories and things that are more disruptive and really are genuine and authentic to him,” Mayorga said. “That’s the beauty of working with a partner like Benito. You can authentically touch different spaces and contribute to those categories, whether it’s running or any other sport. You have the opportunity to do it in a new way.”

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.

Ahead of the US Open in August, Ukranian tennis star Marta Kostyuk sits in a suite in the luxurious William Vale Hotel in Brooklyn, N.Y. To her right is footwear design legend Tate Kuerbis, and industry veteran Shivam Bhan is on her left.

Though she is set to compete in just a few days, Kostyuk — one of Wilson’s head-to-toe athletes — is focused on the array of reference photos, sketches and footwear components that surround her. These materials led to the creation of Wilson Intrigue, the shoe she will soon debut on court, of which FN has an exclusive look.

Both Kuerbis and Bhan are former Nike employees who departed for Wilson in 2023. For their first major project, they were tasked with creating a tennis shoe for women, and more specifically, Kostyuk.

To start, Bhan — who joined in July 2023 as senior director of product and merchandising — said he studied analytics of tennis to see if there was a difference in what women’s and men’s players needed. Here, Bhan discovered that women’s tennis is more demanding from a physiological perspective than the men’s game.

“In men’s tennis, serves are so big, they’re so fast, it’s a given that when you’re serving, you’re going to win. But breaking serve is really important in women’s tennis,” Bhan said. “There are more shots per set in women’s tennis than in men’s. And at Grand Slams, women only have three sets to win their match, and men get five. When you play the stats, it’s more high stakes in women’s tennis, and they have to do more work per point.”

This study also included talking with players on the tour and asking what the most important aspect of a shoe was. Bhan noted that both women and men said support was the most important. “We asked the men what support means, and they would say stiffness. The women would say cushioning,” he explained.

Despite the vastly different needs, most tennis footwear on the market is made with men in mind, including signature shoes from leading brands for the likes of Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.

With Kostyuk — who is currently ranked No. 17 in the world — on Wilson’s roster, Bhan then began to explore her game. In conversation, he stated Kostyuk shared she was most proud about how balanced her game was, which includes the ability to attack angles as her “superpower.” With recent changes to her training, Kostyuk stated she is “getting lighter,” “playing faster” and is “more relentless.”

When asked about what she wants from a shoe, according to Bhan, Kostyuk said she wanted something that runs like a Nike Pegasus but drives like an F1 race car.

Trust the Process

After nearly 29 years at Nike, Kuerbis — whose work at the Swoosh includes the Vapor tennis shoe franchise — joined his former colleague Bhan at Wilson in September 2023. He immediately began working on the Intrigue.

Their work, however, was daunting. The team at Wilson had to complete the Intrigue for Kostyuk in one year, when most footwear takes two years to come to fruition.  

“We weren’t following a footwear calendar. We were following Kostyuk’s calendar, the tennis calendar,” Bhan said. “When she was available, we were designing, we were revising.” 

To get this project across the finish line, Bhan and Kuerbis traveled with samples in hand to Kostyuk’s adopted home of Monaco, where she would practice in the shoes and provide feedback.

“Listening to Marta when she was playing in the shoe, her feedback instantly went back into the design,” said Kuerbis, the senior design director of footwear at Wilson. “We took a couple trips to the factory to work. It was really all hands on deck to push this as fast as possible.”

The realtime feedback from Kostyuk paid off.

“The first sample I saw and tried was in last October, which was super raw. The first sample was way too [much of] running shoe,” Kostyuk said. “There were things we had to add and work on because there are some specifications in tennis that have to be followed to make this shoe last. I don’t destroy shoes as much as other players, so I had some specific demands that were important for me.”

She continued, “This one I tried six weeks ago in July. There was a significant difference. At the end of the day, my needs were met. This one is super good.”

In terms of tech, the Wilson Intrigue features the brand’s lightweight and breathable Ultra Shield engineered mesh, as well as its FootFrame dynamic support fit system for personalized comfort and its newest SwiftStep drop-in sockliner that brings its responsive foam closer to the foot.

In terms of aesthetics, Kuerbis said the team sought to create something timeless, simple and modern, something that would “create a new image for Wilson footwear.”

“I like the way you can play with this shoe. You can make it super simple, or you can add all sorts of different colors underneath the mesh,” Kostyuk said. “You can make it interesting, but this shoe is not too much. This one has a bright color, but it doesn’t hurt your eye when you look at it. This was important because I also like to look very good on court.”

What’s more, in a marketplace dominated by men’s shoes, this one is only for women and was built off a women’s last based on thousands of foot scans.

“There are three places where women’s feet are most different. Women have, on average, more narrow breadth of a heel, they have a higher arch compared to men and they have more variable toe shapes. We built that into the last,” Bhan explained.

The shoe’s name, too, is special. Intrigue is a nod to a women’s-only tennis shoe from Wilson in the 1990s.

“We try to push ourselves to the limit the same as men, so why not help us? This is definitely very special, and these adjustments will definitely help,” Kostyuk said. “It’s amazing and obviously will increase healthy feet in the world.”

Although not yet on the market, the shoe should look familiar to devoted tennis fans. Kostyuk debuted the Wilson Intrigue at the US Open in August and has worn the shoe on court several times since. Other Wilson athletes have worn the shoe as well.

“I spoke to another Wilson athlete in Cincinnati [at the Cincinnati Open] who was wearing the shoes. I asked her what she thinks about them and she said she loves them,” Kostyuk shared. “These shoes had to be good, comfortable and durable, and that is what these guys achieved.”

She continued, “I don’t just want this shoe to be good for me. I also want this to be good for other players and people who are going to wear it, who are going to test it, who are going to use it.”

The Wilson Intrigue arrives in February 2025.

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.