In the last few years, the WNBA has reached massive heights in terms of popularity. In that line-up, New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu took a massive stride. While it may sound like a usual occurrence in the NBA world, Ionescu became the second WNBA star to have a signature sneaker line with Nike. In response to her massive feat, she sent out her gratitude to the Nike co-founder, Phil Knight, with a unique gesture.
The Liberty star not only scored big money for herself but also took the league to another level this season. Amid the intense season, a piece of particular news came in as a positive sign for the women’s league expansion in the near future. A report suggested that the superstar-like performance of players like Sabrina and Diana Taurasi has increased the viewership by 46%. Following that, the WNBA commissioner assured a guaranteed expansion in the future.
WNBA star Sabrina Ionescu thanks Nike Co-founder with special gesture
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Nike has made several wise business decisions in the basketball community. It began with the groundbreaking deal with Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan in the 1980s. Now, it has come down to their second signature shoe line with a WNBA player. The brand is all set to drop Nike Sabrina 1 next month. In response to this, thanked Phil Knight for the recognition. Notably, Knight currently stands as the 24th richest person in the world with $47 billion net worth.
In order to thank Phil Knight for trusting in her, Ionescu found a unique way. A popular NBA/WNBA sneakerhead, Nick DePaula tweeted about the new sneakers that Sabrina sported on her last WNBA game. The sneakers featured a brief letter to Knight that read, “Thanks Uncle Phil.”
Sabrina Ionescu debuted a “Thanks Uncle Phil” edition of her Sabrina 1s yesterday, shouting out Nike founder and fellow Oregon Duck Phil Knight. pic.twitter.com/7evplYtj5a
— Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) August 14, 2023
Moreover, the 25-year-old star has already made a mark with her sneaker line even before its launch. According to a recent report, Google searches for WNBA signature shoes increased by 220% in the last week.
Read More – New York Liberty Signing Breanna Stewart Wins Yankees Fans Over With Her Chic Fashion Statement
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If Sabrina is the second WNBA star to have a Nike signature line, who is the first?
Who is the first WNBA star to have a signature sneaker line?
It is Washington Mystics star Elena Delle Donne who got the first signature sneaker line with Nike, Air Deldon, in 2022. Almost a year later, Sabrina Ionescu joined her to become the third WNBA star. Moreover, Sabrina’s current teammate Breanna Stewart also launched her signature line with Puma in 2022.
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What do you make of the new Sabrina 1s? Let us know in the comments below.