Paige Bueckers Becomes First College Athlete to Launch a Nike Signature Shoe

The UConn star's Nike G.T. Hustle 3 Player Edition features personal touches and will debut on December 7, marking a historic milestone in the NIL era.

Paige Bueckers, a senior at UConn, is the first NCAA athlete to design and release a Nike Player Edition basketball shoe under a NIL deal.
The Nike G.T. Hustle 3 features Bueckers' favorite colors, baby blue and lavender, and includes personalized details like her hometown and UConn area codes, as well as a message from her father: 'Be You, Be Great.'
The shoe will be available to the public starting December 7 via the SNKRS app and select retail locations, a first for a college athlete's player edition model.
Bueckers' achievement comes as Nike faces criticism for not yet releasing a signature shoe for Caitlin Clark, despite her high-profile $28 million deal with the brand.
This milestone adds to Bueckers' legacy as she prepares for her final collegiate season and is projected to be the top pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft.