The top female players in basketball used to have to wait until they reached the pros to nab a shoe deal but the advent of NIL has changed all of that. Players like Cameron Brink, Paige Bueckers and JuJu Watkins have all landed deals while still in college. Here is a history of each female basketball player to land a shoe deal.
JuJu Watkins – Nike
To say that JuJu Watkins is a phenom would be an understatement. She didn’t have to wait until college to sign with Nike because the sneaker giant inked her to a deal while she was still in high school. Currently starring for Southern Cal, Watkins just agreed to a multi-yaer extension.
Flau’jae Johnson – Puma
A McDonald’s All-American, Flau’jae Johnson signed on to play her college basketball at LSU and was the 2023 SEC Freshman of the Year while also helping the Tigers to that year’s National Championship. Still starring at LSU, Johnson signed an NIL deal with Puma.
Paige Bueckers – Nike
After a storied high school career, Paige Bueckers has continued to star at UConn winning the Wooden and Naismith Awards in 2021. She recently became the first college NIL athlete to launch a Nike Player Edition Shoe and will surely take her relationship with the company to the pros.
Cameron Brink – New Balance
A National Champion (2021) and unanimous All-American (2024) at Stanford, Cameron Brink now plys her trade in a major market for the Los Angeles Sparks. She signed a deal with New Balance in the summer of 2023, joining NBA players like Jamal Murray, Kawhi Leonard and Zach LaVine.
Angel Reese – Reebok
Caitlin Clark was all the rage in college basketball, but needed a foil and Angel Reese fast became that player, winning a championship at LSU and continuing to star with the WNBA’s Chicago Stars. Reese has a deal with Reebok and the company will release her signature shoe in 2026.
Caitlin Clark
A phenomenon who has helped to generate tremendous interest in women’s basketball, Caitlin Clark inked a major deal with Nike that will pay her $28 million over the next eight years. There is no release date for her highly anticipated shoes, though they are expected in 2026.
Kelsey Plum
Steph Curry is the face of the Men’s basketball brand for Under Armour and Los Angeles Sparks’ star Kelsey Plum is the face of the Women’s basketball brand. The three-time All-Star and two-time WNBA Champion has her own signture shoe, the UA Breakthru 5.
A’ja Wilson – Nike
A’ja Wilson, a lanky center from South Carolina, is one of the best players in league history, having been named the WNBA MVP on three occasions. It took longer than expected for Nike to release her first signature shoe but the Nike A’One is expcted to debut in 2025.
Sabrina Ionescu – Nike
A superstar for the 2024 WNBA champion New York Liberty, Sabrina Ionescu has been just as good as anticipated since joining hte league from the University of Oregon. The point guards Air Sabrina is on its second incarnation and has been popular with male players like Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Haliburton.
Elena Delle Donne
While she is one of the league’s taller players at six foot five, Elena Delle Donne is so skilled that she usually plays small forward or even shooting guard. The two-time league MVP and seven-time All-Star saw her first signature shoe from Nike, the Nike Air Deldon dropped in 2022.
Breanna Stewart – Puma
Breanna Stewart continued in the tradition of outstanding female players from UConn, winning titles all four years. Her winning ways have contiunued in the WNBA where she has won three titles and two MVP Awards. Her shoe with Puma incorporates her nickname as its called the Stewie.
Candace Parker – Adidas
Candace Parker has done all kinds of winning during her career including two college championships, three WNBA titles and four Russian cups to go with her two MVP awards. Her first ‘Ace’ shoe with Adidas was inspired by her love of candy and the second incorporates her nickname.
Diana Taurasi – Nike
Already an all-time great while still in her playing career, Diana Taurasi’s first sneaker with Nike featured Shox technology. A member of the Phoenix Mercury for more than 20 years, the guard has made 11 All-Star teams and has won three WNBA titles.
Chamique Holdsclaw – Nike
Chamique Holdsclaw was a two-time Naismith Player of the Year at the University of Tennessee and once she entered the WNBA as the first overall selection of the 1999 draft there was a bidding war over her services which was won by Nike. She had multiple signature shoes with the company.
Nikki McCray – Fila
A star the the University of Tennessee during the early 1990s, Nikki McCray first played in the ABL, where she was a league MVP. She became an All-Star for the Washington Mystics and Fila released her signautre shoe, the Nikki Delta in 1999.
Cynthia Cooper – Nike
When Cynthia Cooper graduated from Southern Cal in 1986, there was no WNBA, so Cynthia Cooper plied her trade in Europe. She entered the WNBA in his early 30’s dominating the league, winning four tiles and two MVPs, earning her a signature shoe from Nike, the C14.
Dawn Staley – Nike
Dawn Staley began her professional career in Europe and the ABL before she moved into the WNBA. She was a star in the league immediately, making six All-Star teams, primarily with the Charlotte Sting. Her first signature shoe with Nike was the Zoom S5.
Lisa Leslie – Nike
Famous for her ability to dunk a basketball, Lisa Leslie was selected by the Los Angeles Sparks in the first ever WNBA Draft. The dominant center would parallel Shaquille O’Neal’s LA career, winning three MVP Awards and back the back titles in 2001 and 2002.
Jennifer Rizzotti – Nike
There was a time when the WNBA was still new and some top players, like Jennifer Rizzotti, chose to instead play in the ABL. The UConn point guard had her own signature shoe, the LLS, and she wore them while playing for the New England Blizzard. She then played in the WNBA from 1999-2003.
Rebecca Lobo – Reebok
Suiting up for the UConn Huskies, Rebecca Lobo became the greatest basketball player in college basketball history and Reebok signed her to a deal when she turned pro. While Lobo had some nice years in the WNBA, he wasn’t the same kind of player she was in college.
Sheryl Swoopes – Nike
Sheryl Swoopes was often referred to as the Michael Jordan of women’s basketball. As with Jordan, Nike was eager to sign Swoopes to a deal and make her the first female basketball player to have a signature shoe with the company, the Air Swoopes.