After Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart Takes Over the NBA as Michael Porter Jr. Steps Up for Family’s Legacy

The WNBA is growing, and so is its stars’ popularity. It’s now common to see college basketball players or NBA stars wearing Sabrina Ionescu’s signature shoe, the Sabrina 1. But there is still a large disparity between the deals available to WNBA and NBA stars. The WNBA only has 12 players with signature shoes. But 2023 NBA champion Michael Porter Jr. wants to change that by wearing Breanna Stewart’s signature shoes this season.

The Porter family has a legacy entrenched in basketball. MPJ’s mother, Lisa Porter, led Iowa to their first NCAA appearance in 1986. Michael Porter Sr. even worked as an assistant coach for Missouri and Washington. MPJ’s sisters were also standouts during their time with the Mizzou Tigers. Porter Jr. himself signed an extension with Puma and is showing his love for the brand and the WNBA by wearing the Stewies 2’s in-game.

Michael Porter Junior honors 2x WNBA MVP

According to Nick DePaula of Boardroom, Porter Jr.’s mission is to raise awareness about Breanna Stewart’s brand and advocate for other WNBA players to have signature shoes. While at least 30 NBA players have signed shoe deals, only 12 WNBA players currently have a signature shoe and MPJ wants to help that number grow. “Inspired by the Porter family’s love for women’s basketball and legacy in hoops, MPJ is playing in Breanna Stewart’s Puma signature shoe this season,” DePaula wrote on Twitter. Breanna Stewart reposted it as she wrote, ” Faster forever” with a Puma emoji.

As the WNBA grows, so does the recognition of its stars. College basketball players and NBA stars can now be seen sporting Sabrina Ionescu’s Sabrina 1. It’s important not to overlook Breanna Stewart, the 2016 Rookie of the Year and 2x WNBA champion, who has a separate sneaker line for herself and a growing fanbase that includes 2023 NBA champion, Michael Porter Jr.

Porter Jr. aims to bring attention to Stewart’s shoes and advocate for other talented WNBA players to have their own signature shoes. By doing so, he hopes to contribute to the visibility and accessibility of women’s basketball and support the growth and recognition of the WNBA.

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“I’ve always admired Stewie’s game since back at UConn… You have guys wearing women’s shoes, and it’s usually the other way around,” he said. “We want to bring more awareness to the WNBA and give those women the flowers that they deserve.”

Breanna Stewart’s Puma deal

Breanna Stewart, a WNBA star and Puma ambassador, made history in 2022 as the first female athlete in over a decade to secure a sneaker endorsement deal with the brand. The PUMA Stewie 1 was their inaugural collaborative shoe, and now in 2023, they are set to release the Stewie 2.

Stewart’s second signature sneaker, the Stewie 2, is a professional basketball shoe that pays tribute to various aspects of Stewart’s life that inspire her excellence on and off the court.

It has also paved the way for more WNBA All-Stars to sign with the brand. Skylar Diggins-Smith, Jackie Young and Katie Lou Samuelsohn are also Puma athletes now.

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As a Puma ambassador since 2021, Stewart has played a crucial role in developing Puma’s women’s division. Following the recent launch of the “Ruby” colorway, the Stewie 2 continues to generate buzz among sneaker enthusiasts and basketball players alike.