Nike is set to unveil New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu as their next signature athlete. Not only will the former Oregon standout receive her own signature shoe, but will also have a fully unisex clothing line releasing later this summer.
“Ionescu is the first women’s basketball player to deliver a unisex signature collection with NIKE, Inc.,” said Kerry Sobol, VP Global Women’s Team and Organized Sports. “We are thrilled she will lead the charge with us and continue to change the scope of the game for future generations.”
The 25 year old joins an ever growing team of female athletes at Nike to receive their own signature releases in recent years. Ionescu will join a roster that includes Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka, and Megan Rapinoe as women who have developed their own collections with the apparel giant.
Dropping this summer will be the first entry in her new signature shoe line, the Sabrina 1. According to a Nike press release, the shoe is “made to serve players like Ionescu who want to accelerate and cut with quickness on both sides of the floor and still feel fresh in the fourth quarter. To accomplish this, Nike designers focused on increasing comfort and support while keeping the shoe lightweight. The shoe features full-length Nike React cushioning and a top-loaded Nike Zoom Air unit in the forefoot. This combination provides energy return and responsiveness, while a stabilizing shank in the midfoot helps players stay balanced. A midfoot band system and lockdown cables help the foot stay secure over the footbed.”
Coming off one of the best seasons of her career, Ionescu was named a WNBA All-Star for the first time posting 17.4pts/7.1reb/6.3ast per game. Fresh off becoming the youngest player in league history to record a triple-double in 2021, the California native posted the first ever 30 point triple-double in WNBA history on July 6th 2022.
Despite her prolific collegiate and professional career, Ionescu admitted it was difficult finding high end options for women’s basketball shoes growing up. “I remember being there and picking from Kevin Durant’s shoe or LeBron’s shoe,” she said. “Now, knowing that my shoe is going to be inserted there for teams to be able to pick at Oregon is going to be special.”
In addition to the Sabrina 1, Nike will also be releasing hoodies, t-shirts, shorts, socks, and a cross-body bag later this year.
-Kyle Skinner
Twitter: @JKyleSkinner
Photo: Nike.com press release.