Basketball sneakers attract all eyes on the court and represent the most classic connection between style and sport. The WNBA’s increased energy birthed several signature sneaker announcements and more player-exclusive and custom sneakers on a game-to-game basis. Paying attention to players’ sneakers is more than a style audit; it reveals personal storylines, brand announcements, and trends within the wider culture.

The opportunities for personal messaging through PE sneakers include tributes to family members, personal heritage, and players’ favorite mottos. Chicago Sky’s Dana Evans talks about designing her PE, which reflects a common process for players: “You get to decide what you want on the shoe, what you want it to represent, and the colorway is all up to you. You give them the ideas and tell them the story you want behind it.”

Balancing style, performance, and brand partnerships discover how PEs and other sneaker moments are, ultimately, sharing players’ stories:

Aliyah Boston with her Virgin Island Pride VI Strong sneakers by Adidas

Aliyah Boston 

Securing her partnership with Adidas shortly after joining the Indiana Fever in 2023, Aliyah Boston returns to the WNBA with her first Player Edition sneaker. Named the “Virgin Island Pride VI Strong,” these PE sneakers bring bright, tropical colors to the Adidas Exhibit Select 2.0 to honor her hometown of St. Thomas. 

Dana Evans in her new cherry red Jordan Tatum 2 “Cheat Code” sneakers.

Dana Evans

An outspoken player about sneaker culture, Dana Evans debuts a new Jordan Tatum 2 “Cheat Code” PE in cherry red. Designing her shoe alongside the Jordan brand, her PE sneaker sparks a powerful moment of style synthesis between the WNBA and NBA. In game two of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals, Jayson Tatum wore the PE that Evans designed.

Dearica Hamby sporting her Jordan Tatum 2 sneakers with designs inspired by her two children.

Dearica Hamby 

Carrying the strength of motherhood into her basketball game, Dearica Hamby wears a new Jordan Tatum 2 PE inspired by her two kids. Inscribing their names, Amaya and Legend, onto the sneakers, Hamby’s sneakers also include a hidden slogan: “FIND A WAY.” She joins other players like Breanna Stewart and Candace Parker in celebrating their kids through their sneakers.

Jewell Loyd wearing a pair of Nike G.T. Cut 3 PE sneakers created by her best friend’s son to raise awareness for autism.

Jewell Loyd 

Known for wearing strong streetwear styles in bright, bold colors, Jewell Loyd worked with Nike to create two vibrant pairs of Nike G.T. Cut 3 PE sneakers. First, she debuted a PE covered in smiley faces, which was created by her best friend’s son to raise awareness for autism. Continuing the multicolor motif, Loyd recently debuted another pair of PE sneakers covered in bold brushstrokes. 

Erica Wheeler wearing a metallic “Preloved Purple” colorway from the Adidas AE 1 collection.

Erica Wheeler 

While Erica Wheeler previously created a PE sneaker dedicated to her mother, this Adidas athlete stands out for debuting a new colorway of the Adidas AE 1 this season. Wearing a metallic “Preloved Purple” colorway, Wheeler’s natural, ahead-of-its-time swag matches the futuristic sneaker design, which is set to release in October.

Angel Reese in a handpainted Juneteenth-themed Reebok Question sneaker.

Angel Reese

Angel Reese’s custom sneakers are not technically a PE, but she’s worn an impressive amount of handpainted Reebok Question sneakers to enhance her storytelling in each game. Working with Marvin Baroota, Angel wears sneakers themed around “Barbie,” “Joker,” “Chi Barbie,” and Juneteenth. With the WNBA’s rigorous schedule, Reese and her team work overtime to think of these bedazzled, personalized messages for each game.