Iowa will face UConn on Friday at 9:30 p.m. ET.
Women’s college basketball star Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes are set to compete in the Final Four on Friday. Ahead of the big game, the team got a visit from WNBA star Sabrina Ionescu — and were gifted pairs of her Nike signature shoe.
Specifically, Ionescu gifted Iowa the latest colorway of the Nike Sabrina 1, dubbed “Exclamation,” which is executed in the brand’s luminous green hue with hits of black throughout. The court-ready shoe, which retails for $130 via Nike.com, features a forefoot Zoom Air unit and React foam cushioning underfoot. Some of the Iowa players had their pairs signed by Ionescu.
The Nike Sabrina 1, however, was not the only shoe Iowa received. The new Nike Air Max Dn was also in the players’ bags. Aside from footwear, the bags included Tech Fleece, long sleeved T-shirts and more.
“Enjoy what you guys have done so far, enjoy where you’re at. It’s a lot bigger than yourselves. I think you guys are seeing that in what you have done in the last couple of years here, how it’s changed sport and changed the lives of so many people in your guys’ area, but also around the world,” Ionescu said to the team. “Enjoy playing for one another. You’re never going to get another room like this. There’s never going to be another team you’ll be on that feels like this. Be proud of how you guys have represented yourselves, represented your team and what you’ve done for everyone, not just Iowa basketball.”
Clark — who signed a name, image and likeness (NIL) deal with Nike in October 2022 — will lead Iowa against UConn on Friday at 9:30 p.m. ET. The game will air live via ESPN.
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.
