After the 2023 WNBA season, Gabby Williams chose to play overseas, but she is now back in the WNBA! Seattle Storm signed her for the rest of the 2024 regular season, which is quite interesting because that’s the team she played for before she moved overseas. Now, rookie Angel Reese had reached out to Williams, hoping for a reunion with the Chicago Sky, which sadly didn’t happen. While the French star didn’t fulfill Reese’s wish, she has certainly joined Reese in a trend.

The Seattle Storm forward has just unveiled her latest pair of customized sneakers, making a statement that goes beyond just fashion. With the custom kicks, Williams attempts to address the social cause and increase awareness about maternal health.

On her Instagram story, Williams shared a post from the Storm’s official account, showcasing her new shoes. “Gabby’s Kicks for Equality highlight Atlanta-based organization CRIADO and their mission transforming the delivery and accessibility of health education. The shoes celebrate their work supporting maternal health 🩷,” the post was captioned.

Angel Reese has been another in the WNBA to flaunt her customized sneakers. ‘Baltimore Barbie’ and ‘Joker’ editions have been some sneakers that stood out. But let us not leave out the custom Reebok for the All-Star game or her Reebok Solution Low PE design that includes pink accents and ‘Unapologetically Angel’ for her WNBA debut.

But while the Chi-Town Barbie has been adorning the shoes out of pure interest and some fashion statements, Williams & Co. at Seattle are embracing this trend, showing off their own customized sneakers in support of important causes.

Seattle Storm’s “Kicks for Equality” Initiative: Fashion Meets Activism

The Seattle Storm’s latest trend in customized kicks follows the launch of their 2024 Force4Change initiative, ‘Kicks for Equality’. This campaign featured an online auction of custom-designed sneakers worn by Storm players and their head coach, showcasing their commitment to meaningful causes.

Many players have stepped up with customized kicks that champion important social issues. Head coach Noelle Quinn’s sneakers are designed to raise awareness about breast cancer in Black women. While Mercedes Russell’s kicks spotlight the Black Lives Matter movement, rookie Nika Muhl’s shoes are particularly impactful, addressing both breast cancer and Alzheimer’s/dementia awareness.

The online auction features not just custom kicks but also other exclusive memorabilia, including autographed player jerseys, a team-signed game ball, and a tour of the Storm Center for Basketball Performance with the team’s ownership, plus a meet-and-greet with the General Manager.

In fact, each year, the team selects talented female sneaker artists to work with players and custom design their sneakers. Some of the causes have included mental health, gun violence awareness, Pride, gender equality and so much more. This year, black artist Breanna Berry was chosen.

Berry, who is from Denver, Colorado, started painting shoes in 2017. Her work became quite popular on social media and so, her work has also been featured in the NFL, MLB, and NBA. Now as the WNBA team’s customized kicks continue to make waves, it’s clear that both fashion and social activism are at the forefront of their campaign. The team’s commitment to change is as strong as ever.