UConn star Paige Bueckers made history Saturday by becoming the first collegiate basketball player to receive a Nike sneaker release — and her teammates went all-out to show their support.
The No. 2 Huskies trounced the Louisville Cardinals 85-52 Saturday to remain undefeated, and the team did so while wearing Bueckers’ boundary-breaking sneakers. Even staff members were clad in the “Baltic Blue and Vivid Grape” player edition sneaker, which combines Bueckers’ favorite colors for a special iteration of the Nike G.T. Hustle 3.
While not a full-on signature sneaker, Bueckers’ unique version of the Nike G.T. Hustle 3 basketball sneaker is loaded with details that reference the senior star. The right tongue features a bucket logo while the left adjoins her Connecticut area code (860) with that of her Minneapolis hometown (612). A pre-game text message from her father reading “be you, be great” appears on the left heel, while the right heel again references the Nike athlete’s “buckets” nickname.
“There are so many details that make this shoe special to me,” Bueckers said in a press release. “This is the perfect colorway for me: I love baby blue and lavender, and the radial knit makes me feel fly. My favorite detail is the message from my dad, and the tribute to both of my homes is so meaningful for my first player edition model.”
As for the G.T. Hustle 3 sneaker itself, the model is one of Nike’s top basketball shoes currently on the market. It features specially shaped Zoom Air units in the forefoot along with Air Zoom built into the bottom layer of the upper for what Nike describes as “unbelievable energy return.”
Bueckers signed a name, image and likeness (NIL) deal with Nike during September 2023. “I am blessed and honored to announce my partnership with Nike,” she said following the announcement. “Joining the Nike family is a childhood dream come true. I can’t wait to see what we accomplish together on and off the court.”
The Huskies advanced to 8-0 following Saturday’s win, where Bueckers contributed 10 rebounds, eight points and six assists. UConn was led in scoring by freshman Sarah Strong, who had 21 points, and Azzi Fudd with 18 points.
The Nike G.T. Hustle 3 Paige Bueckers PE is available now from nike.com and select retailers for $190.
