SUMMARY
- Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu are the only active WNBA players with a signature shoe.
- Multiple other stars like Kelsey Plum and Caitlin Clark have signed lucrative deals with various brands.
The WNBA has been slowly gaining a lot more looks lately and this league is bound to experience high levels of success very soon. Strictly based on what certain individuals have brought to the table, fans are slowly starting to tune into more games. A few matchups have already sold arenas, something the league has never experienced this often in the past seasons.
Yes, you should get the WNBA League Pass.
Look at these Caitlin Clark shots! pic.twitter.com/Mx3eTb0vUf— David Astramskas (@redapples) May 4, 2024
With players like Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart, or even Caitlin Clark on the rise, these individuals have become some of the most influential figures in the world of sports. Clark especially has brought a lot of recognition to the league as well. Sports brands are bound to jump at the opportunity to make these players representatives of their companies. So, here are five WNBA players with shoe deals who are expected to blow up.
Breanna Stewart
The New York Liberty happens to be the best team in the WNBA at the moment. Breanna Stewart has been the team’s leader lately and she recently won her second MVP award as well. Last year, Stewart led the Liberty to the WNBA Finals averaging 23 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game.
Dawn at the Barclays. @breannastewart putting in work early in the @wnba season. pic.twitter.com/2o6FhiJVF7
— PUMA Basketball (@PUMAHoops) May 20, 2024
Impressively, Stewart also managed to debut her signature shoe line with Puma two years ago. The 2x WNBA Champion recently released the third edition of the Puma Stewie sneakers. Stewart is one of two active WNBA players who have signature deals with sports brands.
Candace Parker
Candace Parker is another legend in the game, considered one of the greatest players of all time as well. Her resume has a massive list of accolades including three WNBA titles, two MVPs, and seven All-Star selections. She has played for the Los Angeles Sparks and Chicago Sky. She last played with the Las Vegas Aces winning a title with them in 2023.
The Next Chapter.
After 16 years as a brand partner, we’re honored to announce Candace Parker as President of adidas Women’s Basketball.
“This new leadership role symbolizes a shared commitment to making impactful change and setting new benchmarks for the future of women’s… pic.twitter.com/zo3Q8HhCCo
— adidas Basketball (@adidasHoops) May 8, 2024
Parker is currently signed to Adidas, a company that has several other NBA stars under contract like James Harden and Derrick Rose. The former WNBA champion signed a multiple-million dollar deal with the brand and has already a few signature editions released as well.
Sabrina Ionescu
She happens to be the second active player with a signature shoe line who is also teammates with Stewart. Sabrina Ionescu has also emerged as a pivotal figure in the WNBA progress. Earlier this year, she competed against Stephen Curry in a three-point contest during the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend.
Sabrina Ionescu arrived to her game today with the new Nike Sabrina 2s in-hand 👀 https://t.co/XGXKhsU18P pic.twitter.com/sskdHe8AiH
— Nice Kicks (@nicekicks) May 18, 2024
It hasn’t been long since Ionescu entered the league and within three years of her arrival, Nike dropped a signature design known as Sabrina 1. Her next model is set to be released in June 2024.
Kelsey Plum
Kelsey Plum is one of the most iconic WNBA players at the moment. Her leadership and quirky on-court character has amassed a large fan base. Just like the other three athletes mentioned above, Plum has also won two WNBA Championships. Besides being the outstanding player she is, Plum also once served as a graduate coach at Arkansas.
Kelsey Plum has new “All the Smoke” Under Armour Breakthru 5 PEs inspired by her WNBA Finals celebration parade cigars 🏆💨 pic.twitter.com/cXZWWesUQ0
— Nice Kicks (@nicekicks) May 15, 2024
The former NCAA Women’s All-Time Scoring Leader has been working with Under Armor since 2022. Before joining UA’s line of athletes, she worked with Nike. She’s yet to have a signature sneaker with UA but she’s done a few collaboration models with the brand. Her latest collaborative model is “All the Smoke” PEs inspired by the iconic picture of her smoking a cigar.
Caitlin Clark
Finally, the woman who changed the game of women’s basketball forever, Caitlin Clark. This 22-year-old broke multiple all-time NCAA records and she’s bound to have an explosive career in the WNBA as well. Clark was recently chosen as the No.1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft to the Indiana Fever.
Caitlin Clark landing a $20 million-plus signature shoe deal with Nike should end all debate on whether she made the right financial decision going to the WNBA.
Not only did she already have an NIL deal with Nike, but Iowa is a Nike school, and she wouldn’t have had the free… pic.twitter.com/nXrEgRBXnq
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) April 18, 2024
Shortly after making it to the WNBA, Nike swooped in and offered her a multi-year deal worth at least $28 million. This is probably one of the biggest deals signed by any WNBA player let alone a rookie. Clark is expected to have a signature line out any time now. However, she’s known for sporting Kobe Bryant’s signature Nike sneakers.