Sheryl Swoopes has made a name for herself by being the first. She was the very first woman signed to the WNBA in 1996. Swoopes is the first player in WNBA history to record a triple double. She was also the first woman to have a Nike signature shoe.
Basketball Legend
Swoopes played for Texas Tech in college. In 1993, she won the NCAA women’s basketball championship with her squad. She was also named National Player of the year in 1993. Swoopes scored a record setting 47 points, a best for men and women’s college basketball, in the national title game.
USA
Swoopes was a part of the USA Women’s Basketball team that took home the Gold Medal at the 1996 Summer games in Atlanta. That squad changed women’s basketball by putting a huge spotlight on the sport. The team included stars like Teresa Edwards, Lisa Leslie, and Dawn Staley. Right before the Olympics started, Nike announced Swoopes would be getting her own signature sneaker.
First
Before Nike and Swoopes partnered up, historically women ballers had to wear men basketball shoes. Women did not have a sneaker that was specifically designed for them. When a lot of young basketball players, who are currently in the WNBA, laced up a pair of Nike Air Swoopes for the first time, it was a life changing experience. Sneaker culture is a vital part of basketball culture. When Swoopes earned her own signature shoe, it allowed women players to feel like they were a part of the culture completely.
Inspiration
In March 2023, Sabrina Ionescu became a Nike signature athlete. She was the first woman to have a unisex collection for Nike. Her Sabrina 1 line of shoes have been a success with both men and women. NBA athletes, WNBA stars, along with male and female college players have been seen in the signature model. The Sabrina 1 is currently one of the most popular sneakers on the market. It is hard to imagine the Sabrina 1 being a reality without Swoopes. Caitlin Clark, possibly the best basketball player on the planet currently, is due to receive a signature shoe from Nike soon.
Swoopes
The Nike Air Swoopes launched in retail stores in October 1995. This was months before the WNBA was founded in 1996. The shoe was brought to life by Marni Gerber. The designer worked very closely with Swoopes on the design of the shoe. The Swoopes signature line would get seven different silhouettes. The Swoopes was a groundbreaking shoe. It continues to resonate today and in 2018 it was the first woman shoe to be retroed when Nike brought back the Nike Air Swoopes II.
- Adam C. Better
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