Earlier this year, Nike introduced New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu as the newest member of the Nike signature family. The swoosh brand released the Sabrina 1 signature sneaker on Sept. 1, along with a signature apparel collection and accessories.
With their partnership, Ionescu and Nike Basketball are creating more profound change and redefining what it means to be a signature athlete.
Everyone Wins
Ionescu’s first signature collection is unisex, leveraging insights from female and male athletes to inform product innovations that serve not just Ionescu, but all who love the game.
“Ionescu is the first women’s basketball player to deliver a unisex signature collection with NIKE, Inc.” Nike global women’s team and organized sports VP Kerry Sobol said. “We are thrilled she will lead the charge with us and continue to change the scope of the game for future generations.”
Ionescu had this to say about the historic partnership:
“It is an honor to just be able to represent Nike as being a signature athlete and being able to just tell my story through Nike’s brand and what they stand for,” Ionescu said. “I’m obviously honored, very excited for what this is going to continue to do and the doors that it’s going to continue to open for a lot of other athletes to come. It’s an honor. It’s a blessing to be amongst other great signature athletes that are representing our game.”
Ionescu joins a growing number of women who have partnered with Nike to develop signature collections, including Megan Rapinoe, Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams.
Kicks
The Sabrina 1 sneaker is designed to serve players like Ionescu who need to accelerate and cut quickly. To achieve this, Nike’s designers increased comfort and support while maintaining lightweight properties.
The shoe features Nike React cushioning throughout and a Nike Zoom Air unit at the forefoot. The combination of energy return and responsiveness is combined with a stabilizing shank in the midfoot to help players stay balanced. Lockdown cables and a midfoot band keep the foot securely in place over the footbed.
When it came to design, the Sabrina 1 features intricate embroidery patterns modeled after traditional Romanian artwork and architecture to pay homage to Ionescu’s national heritage. There is a dotted “i” on the top and bottom outsole and on the heel — a detail that pays respect to Ionescu’s last name.
Ionescu’s competitive spirit and belief that dreamers can come from anywhere are symbolized by a vertically slanted Swoosh on the medial side of the shoe, along with a hidden quote from “Anyone, Anywhere.”
Ionescu detailed her involvement in the design process:
“I’ve worn a lot of basketball shoes just from when I was younger to now playing,” Ionescu said. “I do have a little bit of insight of what feels good on my foot and what doesn’t feel good and how we can continue to work together to do that. It’s been really nice to talk. I think we’ve been talking for the last two years. Actually, probably since college at Oregon, just about what I like on my foot. What feels good. So really being able to collaborate and bring that to life, and this shoe has everything that I need to excel.”
Best of the Rest
Ionescu’s first signature apparel collection launched in adult sizing and includes tees, a hoodie, shorts, a cross-body bag and socks—the brand’s first to use advanced Dri-FIT ADV materials, made with at least 80 percent recycled materials, and are designed to provide cushioning, compression, traction and Achilles support.
As the Liberty continue their impressive run and the WNBA continues to grow, Ionescu will play a big part in both. Her play on the court and brand-new Nike line has Liberty fans dreaming of a stylish championship run.