Li-Ning Partners With KICKS CREW For The Launch Of The Way of Wade 11

Flash's 11th edition slides in with some serious detail.

Matt Varga June 26th, 2024 (updated)

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Though Dwyane Wade’s focus has changed from the “on the court” to “on the call,” his love for the game has remained just as white-hot. It’s that continuing passion and drive that fuels his partnership with Li-Ning on Way of Wade, the tentpole line in the Chinese brand’s arsenal. The latest iteration, the Way of Wade 11, has a claim to being their best product yet.

Storytelling has been front-and-center on each of the past 10 silhouettes, but it’s the densest on the 11th; the linework on the TPU heel counter is the first indication of that. The radial design red & white geometry is an abstract re-take of Wade’s logo, while the glossy underpinnings contains a topographic print, or at least that’s what it presents as at first glance. A keen eye can spot scores of allusions to Wade’s life, depicting championship trophies, personal mottos and elemental iconography.

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In somewhat of a departure from previous editions, the Way Of Wade 11 sports a much sleeker overall profile, eschewing the segmented look that defined shoes recent as the WoW 10. Much of that is achieved by a shroud-like leather layer that runs from quarter to quarter through the toe-box, emphasized by an extended midsole EVA frame. Those seamless textures make the ribbed nylon tongue stand out all the more, creating a foot entrance that starkly contrasts the rest of the shoe.

Though the innovations up top are a genuine selling point, easily the most unorthodox touches come on the outsole. The “Ground Control Unit” sports a myriad of textures, representing Wade’s personal tenets and career achievements, culminating in an African carved mask on the right shoe directly under the forefoot. On the interior, Li-Ning’s proprietary BOOM midsole aims at all-day comfort while the CARBON CORE plate ensures no performance advantages are sacrificed in the process.

The raffle for the Way of Wade 11 “305” is now open via KICKS CREW; remaining live until June 28th at 11:59 PM EST. Winners will then receive invoices the following day at 11 AM EST. The Way of Wade 11 carries a retail price of $225. You can enter the raffle via the link under “Where To Buy,” included just below.

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WHERE TO BUY

Li-Ning Way of Wade 11 "305"

SKU: ABAU049-1

RETAIL PRICE: $225

RELEASE DATE: Jun 29, 2024

US 06/29/2024 Saturday

Retailer	Release type	Status
KICKS CREW	Raffle	Check Site

Get on the Where to Buy list

Written by

Matt Varga, Junior Editor

Matt Varga is an Editor at SneakerNews. Initially earning a degree in Video Arts and Technology, he got his start in video editing and writing in the music world — primarily on hip-hop and electronic. A long-standing interest in sneakers led him to switching over to footwear. An avid collector, his favorite sneaker of all time comes down to either the Air Jordan 1 “Black Toe” and Air Jordan 5 “Laney,” his first ever pick-ups. When he’s not writing, you can find Matt cooking, traveling, attending concerts and when weather permits, on the handball court.