Sabrina Ionescu’s debut signature Nike crossed over in a way no women’s sneaker has before. It was adopted by WNBA and NBA players (over 75 players wore it this season) and became a fan favorite thanks to the array of colorways, Nike By You options, and friendly $130 price tag. Its popularity can also be credited to its aesthetic familiarity with the most popular performance basketball sneakers in the world, the Nike Kobe Protro line. The highly anticipated Sabrina 2 doubled down on its Kobe inspiration, and that should be applauded, not criticized. Sneakerheads rightfully demand innovation from their favorite brands but often look at sneakers inspired by iconic designs as lazy. The Nike Sabrina line is anything but that.
Brands have tried replicating the look of iconic 80s and 90s sneakers for decades. Some are brands digging into their own archives, and others are companies chasing the popularity of rivals. Seeing a sneaker with Air Jordan inspiration is never shocking as the line has transcended beyond a singular brand or period and now is a symbol of style and culture. We have reached the period where Kobe’s inspiration in other sneakers is prominent, and the Sabrina series isn’t the first. The Nike LeBron 20 was his most popular sneaker in years, and the Kobe influence was obvious. Given Sabrina’s star power and personal relationship with the late Kobe Bryant and his family, her sneakers carrying the torch to blaze a path for a new generation should be celebrated.
The Sabrina 2 celebrates Kobe’s legacy without overshadowing her mission to grow the game in the modern era. Photoshop mockups dressed it in iconic Kobe colorways as soon as it was unveiled, but the design is good enough to stand on its own. Built for accelerating and cutting quickly, the Sabrina 2 is 28 grams lighter than its predecessor and features a Cushlon 3.0 foam midsole for the first time in a Nike basketball shoe. Additional design details include a new “S”-inspired herringbone pattern and an “S” frame that wraps around the upper. When creating the Sabrina 2, the Nike design team leveraged women-specific research, insights, and testing from male athletes. With the growth of the WNBA and more women’s signature sneakers coming, barriers are being broken, and Sabrina Ionescu is helping lead the way.
Photo via Slam Kicks
The Nike Sabrina 2 and apparel collection will be available globally June 28. Full details here.