For decades, WNBA stars have played in shoes designed for men — roughly modified to smaller sizes, without technologies tailored to their game, without stories to tell. In 2026, that era is definitively over.
In less than three years, Nike has launched three WNBA signature lines — Sabrina Ionescu, A'ja Wilson, and Caitlin Clark — and the market has responded unequivocally. The first drop of A'ja Wilson's A'One sold out in less than five minutes. The Sabrina 1 has become one of the most worn basketball shoes among young players regardless of gender. The Nike Caitlin 1 hasn't even been released yet, and it is already expected to be one of the biggest sneaker launches in Nike's recent history.
This is the story of how three extraordinary players are rewriting the rules of basketball and the sneaker market.
Sabrina Ionescu and the Nike Sabrina 3: the pioneer
Sabrina Ionescu arrived first. The New York Liberty playmaker received her first Nike signature shoe — the Sabrina 1 — back in 2024, when almost no one yet believed that a shoe signed by a WNBA player could have a significant market impact. They were wrong.
The Sabrina changed the conversation. It wasn’t a "women’s" shoe — it was a top-level basketball shoe, with real technologies, original design, and an authentic story behind it. Ionescu is the player with the world record for three-pointers in the All-Star Weekend contest, an Olympic gold medalist with Team USA, the benchmark of global women's basketball. Her shoe reflects exactly this identity.
The Nike Sabrina 3 is the most mature evolution of the line — Air Zoom in the forefoot for immediate propulsion, support cables integrated into the upper for lateral containment, dual foam in the midsole for a balance between cushioning and court feel. Unisex fit, available in sizes from 36 to 44 EU.
→ Buy the Nike Sabrina 3 "Big Ellie" on TripleBasket — €129
A'ja Wilson and the Nike A'Two: the phenomenon that sells out in five minutes
A'ja Wilson became the third WNBA player to receive a Nike signature shoe, after Sheryl Swoopes and Sabrina Ionescu. But what she did with that opportunity went beyond all expectations.
The first colorway of the A'One — "Pink A'ura" — sold out in less than five minutes after its launch in May 2025. The following eleven colorways, from the OG Pearl to Indigo Girl to the All-Star version, all followed the same pattern: very high demand, stock quickly sold out. The reason is simple: Wilson built the shoe around her story, not around marketing. The pearl patterns on the upper pay homage to the necklace her grandmother Hattie Rakes gave her as a child. The writing on the heel — "Weakness, weakness. We don't have time for that" — is one of her most iconic post-game phrases. It’s not a generic shoe with her name on it — it’s a piece of identity.
The Nike A'Two, released on May 2, 2026, takes the Wilson line to the next level. Compared to the A'One, the A'Two adds a new Air Zoom unit in the forefoot inside a Cushlon 3.0 midsole, a midfoot shank for torsional control, a molded upper inspired by Wilson’s signature pearl pattern, a reinforced external heel counter, and a high-grip traction pattern. "With the A'One we had the Cushlon 3.0 — with the A'Two we wanted to raise the bar and bring all the technology to the next level," said the Nike design team.
Caitlin Clark and the Nike Caitlin 1: the biggest wait in WNBA sneaker history
Caitlin Clark is the biggest sports phenomenon in the last twenty years in women's basketball — and probably in all American sports. She signed with Nike in 2022 and in 2025 officially became a signature athlete with a $28 million eight-year contract.
Clark is the third WNBA player to receive a Nike signature shoe, following A'ja Wilson and Sabrina Ionescu. Her logo — two interwoven Cs with a hidden C — represents her magnetic connection with fans and her inside-out playing philosophy.
The Nike Caitlin 1 is the most anticipated shoe in recent women's basketball history:
- Expected release: September 29, 2026, with colorways extending throughout the holiday season
- Price: $140 in unisex sizing, $115 GS, $105 PS — also available in kids' sizes
- Clark revealed the shoe has new performance technology never seen before, with a design process that started at the end of her last year at the University of Iowa
- While waiting for her signature shoe, Clark wore Kobe 5 Protro in dedicated colorways — including the "Rookie of the Year" version in Metallic Silver and University Red
"It was probably a year and a half of work to understand what I want in my shoe, how to make it unique and how to make it comfortable," Clark said. The result will arrive in September 2026 — and the market is already waiting.
Why this changes everything
The WNBA signature shoe revolution is not just a marketing matter. It is a structural change in how women's basketball is perceived, valued, and marketed.
For the first time, young players have shoes designed specifically for their game — not adaptations of men's models. For the first time, WNBA fans have products to collect with the same urgency as Jordan or Nike LeBron sneakers. For the first time, sales numbers prove that the market exists and that it is huge.
A'ja Wilson's shoes recorded the fifth highest number of minutes played on court among all models across the WNBA — not because they are mandatory, but because players choose them. That is the true sign of a shoe that works.
WNBA shoes on TripleBasket
The Nike Sabrina 3 is now available on TripleBasket. It is the only WNBA signature shoe currently available in Italy with immediate shipping — unisex fit, perfect for fast guards of any gender.
→ Buy the Nike Sabrina 3 "Big Ellie" — €129
Follow us to stay updated on the arrival of the Nike A'Two and Nike Caitlin 1 in Italy — write to us on WhatsApp to be notified.
Frequently Asked Questions — WNBA Shoes
Which WNBA player has her own Nike signature shoe? Three WNBA players have a Nike signature shoe: Sabrina Ionescu with the Sabrina line (currently at version 3), A'ja Wilson with the A'One/A'Two line, and Caitlin Clark with the Nike Caitlin 1 — releasing in September 2026. It is the first time in history that three WNBA players simultaneously have a signature line with the same brand.
Are WNBA shoes also good for men? Yes — WNBA signature shoes like the Nike Sabrina 3 are available in unisex sizing and work perfectly for male players as well. The technologies are identical — Air Zoom, lateral support, court grip — regardless of the gender of the wearer.
When does the Nike Caitlin Clark shoe release? The Nike Caitlin 1 — Caitlin Clark's first signature shoe — is scheduled for September 29, 2026. It will be available in unisex sizing at $140, with Grade School versions at $115 and PS at $105. It is already considered one of the most anticipated sneaker launches in Nike's recent history.
Why do A'ja Wilson's shoes sell out so quickly? The first colorway of A'ja Wilson's A'One sold out in less than five minutes after launch. The phenomenon is due to the combination of very high demand, limited quantities, and an authentic personal story behind each colorway — the pearl patterns honoring her grandmother, the iconic phrases on the heel. Those who want an A'Two must monitor the drops carefully.
Is the Nike Sabrina 3 available in Italy? Yes — the Nike Sabrina 3 is available on TripleBasket in Italy with 24/48h shipping. It is the first female WNBA signature shoe available in Italy with regular availability. Unisex fit, available in sizes from 36 to 44 EU.