Originally teased by Vanessa Bryant.
With WNBA All-Star Weekend underway, No. 1 overall pick Caitlin Clark is set to participate for the first time in style.
Clark took to the court Friday for a Team WNBA practice session at Phoenix’s Footprint Center. On her feet were a special pair of Nike Kobe 6 Protro sneakers created specifically for the event. Originally teased by Kobe Bryant’s wife, Vanessa, Thursday on Instagram, the “WNBA All-Star” Nike Kobe 6 player exclusives feature a bright red-and-green colorway. The scaly, snake-inspired sneaker includes an insole graphic with “ASW24” text, denoting its connection to the yearly event. In addition to wearing the exclusive pair at practice, Clark also shared a closer look on her Instagram story, tagging Vanessa in the post.
Clark wasn’t the only player to lace up the Kobe 6 exclusives during practice. The Rookie of the Year contender’s Team WNBA teammate Arike Ogunbowale also wore the pair and shared the sneakers on her Instagram story, giving the best look yet at the shoe’s details.
In a Friday press conference (below), Clark was asked about her favorite Nike Kobe sneakers and spoke about the late NBA legend’s impact on her. “I’m a Kobe person, everybody knows that,” she told reporters. “It’s the best shoe, it’s not even close. I probably like the Kobe 6s the best, which are the ones I have on right now. I like the 5s as well, but the 6s are kind of my thing. Obviously just to wear his shoe, and what Vanessa has done, and what their family has done, and continuing his legacy. Not only within his shoe, but that whole foundation and the Kobe brand is pretty incredible. So I feel very lucky and fortunate to not only represent Nike but also their entire family.”
The WNBA All-Star Game takes place Saturday, July 20 at 8:30 p.m. ET. and will air live on ABC. It pits WNBA All-Stars who are competing in the Olympics as part of the USA women’s national team against those All-Stars who are not. Clark will team with rival Angel Reese as part of Team WNBA, while the U.S. women’s team will be led by players including A’ja Wilson, Kahleah Copper, Jewell Loyd and Sabrina Ionescu.
While readers shouldn’t expect this Nike Kobe 6 “WNBA All-Star” PE to hit retail, there are a number of other Kobe releases in the works including the Nike Kobe 5 “X-ray” and the Nike Kobe 8 “What the Kobe.”
