words, images & design // Nick DePaula
A year after being selected #1 overall in the 2020 WNBA draft, SLAM labeled New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu as “The Next Queen of NY” in the mag’s. Future Issue.
Two years after SLAM #231, Sabrina was launching her own signature shoe with Nike – just the 12th player in W league history to have her own signature shield – a historical distinction to reflect on, and to look forward to.
“I know the numbers – only 11 players in 27 years have come before me,” he enthused after being introduced. “It’s one of the highest honors in our sport and it’s beyond humbling to be a part of it.”
Time quickly took Ionescu’s power and influence on the game to another level.
An All-Star and All-WNBA PG for the past three seasons, the 3-point contest record setter has also been on a full Liberty team that reached the WNBA Finals last year, and is looking to repeat that. a year.
His original signature model broke barriers and saw adoption at all levels of the game, inspiring “anyone, anywhere,” just as he hoped.
“It’s crazy to think about it now, but the vision that Nike and I had together has really come to life,” he added.
The momentum surrounding her second port has made her one of the most anticipated models of the year. It results in players of all positions, at all levels and in all backgrounds feeling inspired whenever they put together their pairs of Sabrinas.
“That has been something we have been able to see happen, from NBA players to college players and now young boys,” said Ionescu. “They will be able to put these shoes on and feel like they can go out and accomplish anything.”
With expectations justifiably high as Sabrina enters her fifth season this summer, there were also equally high expectations for her signature follow-up shoe, the Nike Sabrina 2.
Bringing back the sleek silhouette and various color blocking options on the upper, his second shoe offered both a lighter weight sneaker and a more responsive cushioning platform. The visual placement of the Swoosh inside the original shoe returns again, looking up at the image of broken glass to show Sabrina’s barrier breaking series.
To highlight her impact on the sneaker game and the signature shoe business, SLAM teamed up with Nike to create the Sabrina 2 which will be on the court – complete with sea foam.
As SLAM celebrates its 30th anniversary and the magazine’s upcoming launch at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, we partnered with a number of brands to highlight the most memorable covers, most influential players and defining sneakers that have made their mark over the past three decades of SLAM. .
Enhancing luminous seafoam throughout, the SLAM x Sabrina 2 features many additional details throughout. The heels of each shoe feature the SLAM logo and a nod to 30 years, while the sole includes our iconic 30 year banner.
The Swoosh logos are raised all over, standing outside the mirror that speaks to little girls and boys who can take inspiration from the shoes and “see themselves” in Sabrina’s style.
“My favorite detail is the Swoosh and I can see it for myself,” Ionescu said. “I want everyone to see for themselves, what they want to create and what they want to dream – to be able to go out and do that in my shoes.”
As SLAM turns a real page, which is not only 30 years of influence and the name of the Hall Of Fame cementing the legacy of the “basketball bible” into a great story, the future of the sport is also focused on it. in celebrating and highlighting the future.
The future Sabrina Ionescu is helping to define. Both for his game, and the impact of his signature series with Nike.
“I know some people might think: ‘Just a shoe…’
“But really,” he continues. “I think signature shoes like this can help keep the game moving forward, for everyone.”
As SLAM celebrates 30 years in the game, our new Sabrina 2 collaboration is looking forward to it The futurelinking up with one of the magazine’s cover athletes who are sure to continue to pave the way for the next generation of the sport.
