The First to Ever Do It
There are so many details that make this shoe special to me… – Paige Bueckers
With more NCAAW news and attention for women’s basketball than ever before, it makes sense that one of the top stars in college would make NIL history with Nike. UConn basketball star Paige Bueckers is the first NIL-era athlete to design and launch their own Nike Player Edition basketball sneaker.
“It’s definitely motivating to wear your own shoe,” Bueckers said. “I grew up wearing Nikes — all the signature shoes — so it’s surreal to have this Player Edition model. I just want to show out in it.”
Paige will show off the Nike G.T. Hustle 3 shoes when she’s playing college basketball games during her final season with UConn this year.
“There are so many details that make this shoe special to me,” Paige said. “This is the perfect colorway for me: I love baby blue and lavender, and the Radial Knit makes me feel fly. My favorite detail is the message from my dad, and the tribute to both of my homes is so meaningful for my first Player Edition model.”
The shoes have the area codes for the University of Connecticut and Paige’s hometown in Minnesota. The message from her dad is the “Be You, Be Great” text he sends her before every game.
Paige Bueckers stays making history, becoming the first NIL athlete to design + launch her own Nike PE with the Nike G.T. Hustle 3. pic.twitter.com/Z16WJz8WTS
— SLAM Kicks (@SLAMKicks) December 2, 2024
What to Expect from Paige in 2025
The next year figures to be a huge one for Bueckers. First, she’ll try to lead the UConn women’s basketball team to their first championship since 2016. Last year, they came up short in the semifinals against Caitlin Clark’s Iowa team.
But through six games this season, Paige Bueckers’ stats see her shooting a career-high .627 from the field with 22.0 points per game, which would also be a career-best. The Huskies are No. 2 in the current rankings and always have championship aspirations under coach Geno Auriemma.
But whether she wins a championship or not, the expectations are that Bueckers will be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA draft. The Dallas Wings won the lottery as an expansion franchise to hold the No. 1 pick in a year where a talent like Bueckers just happens to be available.
She may not have the scoring volume and passing prowess of Caitlin Clark, the Indiana Fever’s phenom and reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year, but there are some who believe she can defend better and shoot a higher percentage from 3-point territory than Clark. So, this could possibly become a rivalry in the WNBA soon as Bueckers will enter the league with a considerable level of hype herself.
PUTTING UP VIDEO GAME NUMBERS 🎮🔥
Paige Bueckers has her 25th career 25-point game, the second-most by a UConn player over the last 25 seasons, trailing only Maya Moore 😱 pic.twitter.com/YgbG1aV66c
— espnW (@espnW) November 28, 2024
Honestly, I’m ready for a young guard to challenge Clark in the WNBA. The Angel Reese rivalry felt so forced at times last season, and they play different positions and play the game much differently. This would be a fairer comparison, so let’s hope these teams can put some competent pieces around these young stars as the WNBA looks to keep expanding and putting out its best product.
But clearly, the college game has changed with stars able to make apparel deals with heavyweights like Nike while they’re still in college. Promoting yourself as a brand is a huge deal for Paige’s generation, so they’re getting an early start on it thanks to NIL.
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