UConn star Paige Bueckers continues to make historical past.
On Monday, Nike named Bueckers as the primary title, 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 individual shoe,” Bueckers mentioned in an announcement. “I grew up carrying Nikes — all of the signature footwear — so it’s surreal to have this participant version mannequin. I simply need 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 sport. “Bueckers” is printed on the appropriate heel.
Bueckers first signed an NIL cope with Nike in September 2023, including the attire firm to a prolonged checklist of offers with firms similar to Gatorade, Dunkin’, Bose and Chegg.
In August, Bueckers additionally signed an NIL cope with Unequalled, the brand new winter 3×3 skilled league co-founded by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier. She grew to become 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 latest matter of dialog following the 2025 WNBA Draft Lottery in mid-November. The Dallas Wings received the lottery, permitting them to pick 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 a further season after receiving an additional yr of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, Bueckers instructed The Athletic this summer season that she deliberate for this faculty season to be her final, and she or he later shared in a social media publish that she was participating in her final UConn media day this fall.
She joins a rising group of ladies’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 shall be in the marketplace by the 2025 WNBA season. Caitlin Clark additionally debuted a number of player-exclusive sneakers, and she or he reportedly will obtain a Nike signature sneaker sooner or later as a part of an endorsement deal she signed final spring.
Via 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 sport. UConn is undefeated and hosts Holy Cross on Tuesday earlier than enjoying Louisville within the Girls’s Champions Traditional at Barclays Middle on Saturday.
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(Photographs courtesy of Nike)
