Skechers entered the basketball category last year in a major way, announcing the additions of Julius Randle of the New York Knicks and Terance Mann of the Los Angeles Clippers in October to its athlete roster. Now, it has its first WNBA brand ambassador.
The brand announced Monday that it has signed Rickea Jackson of the Los Angeles Sparks. Jackson — the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft — is the newest member of the Skechers athlete roster that includes the aforementioned Randal and Mann, as well as 2023 NBA MVP Joel Embiid.
“I’m thrilled to be the first WNBA player to join forces with Skechers,” Jackson said in a statement. “While Skechers is a new player in the basketball world, their commitment to fit, support and active collaboration with athletes is clear. The comfort and design of their footwear is truly impressive. I love training in these shoes and I’m eager to see what we can accomplish together.”
For the announcement, Jackson was photographed wearing Skechers’ new Skx Nexus shoe, a low-top style the brand said was designed with speed, stability and support in mind. The look, according to Skechers, is ideal “for players like Jackson who desire a fast and responsive court-feel.”
The shoe also includes the brand’s resilient Skechers Move Foam, as well as breathable mesh uppers, lockdown ankle support in the heel and Goodyear rubber outsoles with a torsion-plate designed to “amplify traction for quick cuts on the court.”
Although the Skx Nexus is not available for purchase just yet, there are other basketball shoes from Skechers that can be shopped, including the lightweight Skx Resagrip and the Skx Float, which was built with stability and control in mind. They can be picked up via Skechers.com now, with pricing ranging from $140 to $150.
“So we can give each player the attention they deserve, our roster of professional basketball athletes is tight and focused with veterans like 2022-23 MVP Joel Embiid and three-time NBA All-Star Julius Randle, as well as rising stars with exceptional talent like LA Clippers shooting guard Terance Mann. We’ve been looking for the right WNBA player to add to Team Skechers and we found her in Rickea Jackson,” Skechers president Michael Greenberg said in a statement. “Rickea’s a sensational athlete and an inspiration — and she deserves the best footwear that meets her needs. League rules mean fans won’t see her competing in Skechers now, but we’re already gaining her insights as we continue to deliver the most comfortable and innovative footwear on the court for all athletes.”
Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.
