UConn star Paige Bueckers continues to make historical past.
On Monday, Nike named Bueckers as the primary identify, picture and likeness athlete to design and launch a participant version sneaker, with the model debuting Bueckers’ Nike G.T. Hustle 3 on Saturday.
“It’s positively motivating to put on your personal shoe,” Bueckers mentioned in a press release. “I grew up sporting Nikes — all of the signature sneakers — so it’s surreal to have this participant version mannequin. I simply wish to present out in it.”
The sneaker options particulars private to the 2021 Naismith Participant of the Yr. The world codes for Storrs, Conn., and Bueckers’ hometown in Minnesota intersect on the left tongue, and a textual content bubble with the phrase “Be You, Be Nice” is printed on the left heel as a nod to the message she receives from her father earlier than each recreation. “Bueckers” is printed on the appropriate heel.
Bueckers first signed an NIL take care of Nike in September 2023, including the attire firm to a prolonged listing of offers with corporations corresponding to Gatorade, Dunkin’, Bose and Chegg.
In August, Bueckers additionally signed an NIL take care of Unrivaled, the brand new winter 3×3 skilled league co-founded by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier. She turned the primary NCAA athlete to obtain possession fairness in a league. She is anticipated to play within the league subsequent yr.
Bueckers’ enjoying future has been a current subject of dialog following the 2025 WNBA Draft Lottery in mid-November. The Dallas Wings won the lottery, permitting them to pick out Bueckers No. 1 if the Huskies star declares for April’s draft.
Bueckers is a redshirt senior, although she nonetheless might return to UConn for an extra season after receiving an additional yr of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, Bueckers told The Athletic this summer that she deliberate for this school season to be her final, and he or she later shared in a social media publish that she was collaborating in her final UConn media day this fall.
She joins a rising group of girls’s basketball gamers to have design enter on Nike sneakers. Jewell Loyd and Jonquel Jones are amongst WNBA gamers who unveiled Nike player-exclusive sneakers this previous season, whereas Sabrina Ionescuhas a well-liked signature sneaker and A’ja Wilson’s can be available on the market by the 2025 WNBA season. Caitlin Clark additionally debuted a number of player-exclusive sneakers, and he or she reportedly will obtain a Nike signature sneaker sooner or later as a part of an endorsement deal she signed final spring.
By means of six video games this season, Bueckers, a two-time first-team All-American, is averaging 22 factors, 4.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per recreation. UConn is undefeated and hosts Holy Cross on Tuesday earlier than enjoying Louisville within the Girls’s Champions Basic at Barclays Middle on Saturday.
Required studying
(Images courtesy of Nike)
