Paige Bueckers is the first NIL athlete to launch the Nike Player Edition sneaker

UConn star Paige Bueckers continues to make history.

On Monday, Nike named Bueckers its name, image and likeness athlete to design and launch a Player Edition sneaker. On Saturday, the brand introduced the Nike GT Hustle 3 by Bueckers.

“It’s definitely motivating to wear your own shoe,” Bueckers said in a statement. “I grew up wearing Nikes – all the signature shoes – so having this Player Edition model is surreal. I just want to stand out in it.”

The sneaker features personal details about the 2021 Naismith Player of the Year. The area codes for Storrs, Connecticut and Bueckers’ hometown in Minnesota intersect on the left tongue, and a text bubble that reads “Be You, Be Great” is printed on the left heel, as a nod to the message she receives from her father before every game. “Bueckers” is printed on the right heel.

Bueckers first signed a NIL deal with Nike in September 2023, adding the apparel company to a long list of deals with companies like Gatorade, Dunkin’, Bose and Chegg.

In August, Bueckers also signed an NIL contract with Unrivaled, the new winter 3×3 professional league co-founded by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier. She was the first NCAA athlete to receive league ownership. She is expected to play in the league next year.

Bueckers’ playing future was a hot topic of conversation following the 2025 WNBA Draft Lottery in mid-November. The Dallas Wings won the lottery and will be allowed to select Bueckers No. 1 when the Huskies star declares for the draft in April.

Bueckers is a redshirt graduate but could still return to UConn for another season after receiving an additional year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Bueckers said The athlete This summer, she declared that this college season would be her last, and later shared in a social media post that she would attend her final UConn media day this fall.

She joins a growing group of female basketball players to help design Nike sneakers. Jewell Loyd and Jonquel Jones are among the WNBA players who debuted player-exclusive Nike sneakers last season, while Sabrina Ionescu has a popular signature sneaker and A’ja Wilsons are set to launch by the 2025 WNBA season become. Caitlin Clark also debuted several exclusive player sneakers and will reportedly receive a Nike signature sneaker in the future as part of an endorsement deal she signed last spring.

In six games this season, Bueckers, a two-time first-team All-American, averaged 22 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. UConn is undefeated and hosts Holy Cross on Tuesday before playing Louisville on Saturday in the Women’s Champions Classic at Barclays Center.

Required reading

(Photos courtesy of Nike)