Nike Has No Time for Sheryl Swoopes’ Request After A’ja Wilson’s Big Release
admin_news
Nike is celebrating the success of Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson’s new signature sneaker, the A’One—but at the same time, the brand is reportedly ignoring calls from legend Sheryl Swoopes to bring back her own historic shoe.
Swoopes’ agent, Gina Paradiso, said she has reached out to Nike “many times” about re-releasing the Air Swoopes, the first-ever signature basketball shoe for a woman, which came out in 1995.
But Nike has not shared any plans. Instead, the company only pointed to its “iconic archives” and said its designers are focused on “listening to the athlete.”
The timing has caused frustration for Swoopes, especially as Wilson’s shoe just had one of the biggest launches for a women’s basketball star in years.
The A’One hit Nike’s website last week and sold out within minutes. Fans rushed to buy the pink sneakers, which cost $110 for adults and $90 for kids.
A new batch will be released on Thursday, with even more colorways—Indigo Girl and OG Pearl—dropping May 17.
Nike gave Wilson a huge marketing push. There were two commercials, one directed by Malia Obama. The Aces even turned a preseason game into “A’One Night,” with fans and friends wearing her shoes and gear.
That level of support is very different from what Swoopes experienced.
“When my shoe came out, Nike didn’t do a commercial,” she told Front Office Sports at the Breaking Barriers Summit in New York. “It was just, ‘Here’s your shoe.’”
Though Nike did run a TV spot for the Air Swoopes IV years later, the original release had no big rollout.
Swoopes, who broke barriers in the 1990s, sees an opportunity for the brand to connect its past with the present. She believes she and Wilson could work together to tell a bigger story.
Wilson is only the second Black woman to get a Nike basketball signature shoe since Swoopes’ final release in 2002. That’s why this moment matters so much.
Even after retirement, Swoopes remains active in the game and the business world. She’s gained brand deals through social media and word of mouth.
“There’s more money and more chances now,” she said. “But you have to ask for what you want.”
Right now, she’s reportedly still waiting on Nike to answer.
Related: LV Aces Release Two of A’ja Wilson’s Teammates on Wednesday
