Whether it’s the Air Jordan OG from 1998, the player editions for UCLA guard Kiki Rice and WNBA star Kia Nurse or several other shoes, Jordan Brand has been invested in the women’s game. That investment continues with the Heir Series.
Jordan Brand’s revealed the Heir Series on Monday, its newest court-ready basketball shoe, which was made using feedback from several of the 15 women athletes it backs.
“We’re currently witnessing a pivotal and transformative era for sports, especially women’s sports,” WNBA star Rhyne Howard said in a statement. “This shoe allows us to leverage our understanding of how women play to create products that can benefit all athletes and push the entire sport landscape forward.”
Jordan Brand stated the Heir Series is representative of its belief that all athletes can benefit from women’s insights, and that this philosophy comes to life in the Heir Series through its emphasis on running and cutting, two of the “most critical aspects of the women’s game” and a “top priority for a growing number of all hoopers.”
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To address this, Jordan Brand added an exterior layer of foam to the Heir Series — its lowest shoe basketball shoe on the market — that protects a drop-in Cushlon 3.0 midsole, which it explained allows the wearer’s foot to be low to the ground for “a flexible court feel.” Also adding to the court feel is the rubber herringbone traction pattern used on the outsoles, which the brand said enables quickness and control.
Additional tech in the Heir Series includes an adaptive, flexible cage that Jordan Brand stated was inspired by “the connection and teamwork central to the women’s game.” This tech, the brand explained, also drives support and comfort while preventing ankle rolling, a common injury with women basketball players.
“I love how light they are, how comfortable they are, and I feel like I have a lot of support when I run and cut out on the court,” WNBA star Jordin Canada said in a statement. “It’s a great shoe, and for it to be a shoe from women, I’m really glad to be a part of this one.”
Jordan Brand revealed the stories behind several colorways of the shoe, including “Main Character,” which is replete with bold hues and an abstract animal print that it stated “reflects the bold, confident mindset of female basketball fans and Jordan Brand Family athletes.”
Another colorway Jordan Brand shared insights into is “Her Collective,” which it stated “fuses the favorite colors of each female athlete on the Jordan Brand Family roster.” Also, the “YSY” look was inspired by China, the home country of its sponsored athlete Yang Shuyu.
“Understanding that the Heir Series is specifically designed from my insights as well as other women athletes on the roster is really representative of the change that’s going on right now in women’s basketball,” Rice said in a statement. “Being able to contribute to the design and feel of this shoe is something I don’t take for granted. I love the aesthetic and think the color blocking lends itself to be a great vehicle for storytelling and advancing the women’s game and basketball overall.”
The Jordan Brand Heir Series silhouette is available now via Jordan.com and at select retailers with a $110 price tag.
About the Author
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.
