Sam McCracken, a 28-year Nike veteran who founded the brand’s Native American community-focused N7 business, has announced his plans to retire in 2025.

McCracken announced his retirement plans on LinkedIn, where he called his tenure with Nike “an incredible ride.”

“To all of you who have trusted me to do the work that I was called to do, thank you. To those who have embraced and pushed me on how we could support our community even more, thank you. To the Athletes and Ambassadors who have shared in this mission and have helped it grow, thank you,” McCracken wrote.

Nike confirmed with FN that McCracken will retire from the company in 2025 after he onboards the next N7 leader.

McCracken, who currently holds the general manager of N7 title, started his career with Nike in 1997 at its Wilsonville, Ore., distribution center. Just three years later, McCracken became the manager of its Native American business.

Since then, McCracken has led the development of more than 25 N7 product collections and brand stories.

Aside from product, McCracken has also been a driving force for the N7 Fund, which was established in 2009 and focuses on creating access to sport for Native American and Indigenous youth in the United States and Canada.

Nike also stated McCracken’s leadership with its Native American Network & Friends has helped drive ongoing education, visibility and representation for its Indigenous community, which includes a recruitment and retention strategy.

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.

Caitlin Clark brought a considerable amount of eyes to the WNBA this past season, which proved to be financially lucrative for the Indiana Fever star.

This week, Sportico released its Highest-Paid Female Athletes 2024 list, which measured their total earnings for the 12 months ending Dec. 31. This included both salary or winnings and endorsements. Clark was the lone basketball player to make the list.

Clark’s earnings for 2024, according to Sportico, was $11.1 million. Her WNBA salary, the publication stated, accounted for roughly $100,000 of the $11.1 million. This included, the report stated, a base salary of $76,535 and multiple performance bonus payments, including $10,300 for her All-WNBA first team selection.

The remaining $11 million of her 2024 earnings came from endorsements. The most most valuable endorsement deal, according to the report, was Nike.

In April, The Wall Street Journal reported Nike’s deal for Clark was worth up to $28 million over eight years. The Swoosh reportedly beat out several other potential bidders, including Puma, Adidas and Under Armour.

The deal, NBA insider Shams Charania reported via Twitter at the time, would also include a signature shoe.

Clark has long been aligned with Nike, first signing a name, image and likeness (NIL) deal with the brand in October 2022. The hooper laced up several different models from Nike during her Iowa Hawkeyes playing days, mostly looks from the brand’s beloved Kobe franchise.

Though Nike has not yet released a Clark signature shoe, as a pro, she has continued to play a role in the buzz around the Kobe franchise with eye-catching player editions (PEs) and by wearing fan-favorite colorways. For instance, she debuted her first Nike Kobe PE in late July during an Indiana Fever practice, a Nike Kobe 5 Protro in the black and gold hues of her alma matter.

Aside from footwear, Nike celebrated Clark in October with a T-shirt commemorating her Rookie of the Year Award. The shirt, which is available via Nike.com for $40, features several of her rookie year accolades, including most points in a rookie season (769), most assists in a season (337) and more.

Some of Clark’s other high-profile deals in 2024 included Wilson Sporting Goods Co. (highlighted by multiple signature basketball collection releases), as well as Gatorade, State Farm and more.

In terms of viewership, the WNBA revealed in October that the full season — which included the regular season, playoffs and finals — averaged 1.2 million viewers, making it the most-watched full season on ESPN platforms ever.

What’s more, ESPN hosted the most-watched game of the regular season, a matchup between the Fever and the Chicago Sky in June, which averaged 2.3 million viewers.

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.

Nike may have just lost one of its all-time top men’s tennis players to retirement, but it looks like the brand has big plans for the sport in the new year. In addition to a full-fledged retro push of Andre Agassi’s 1990s signature line, a new performance model is on the way, and it’s borrowing some aesthetic inspiration from a basketball classic.

Images of the all-new Nike Hypersmash recently hit the internet. The low-top tennis silhouette takes some clear inspiration from the Nike Hyperdunk basketball model, which was originally released in 2008 and was famously worn by Kobe Bryant. 

The late NBA legend wore the “United We Rise” Hyperdunk while playing as a member of Team USA during the 2008 Olympics. Its launch came in-between the Kobe 3 and the Kobe 4 and offered a first glimpse at a new Nike tech known as Flywire that would define many of the era’s performance shoes.

Inspired by suspension cables on bridges, Flywire tech used lightweight-yet-durable Vectran filaments to support the wearer’s foot. In addition to the Hyperdunk, Flywire was prominently featured on models such as the Kobe 4, Kobe 5, LeBron 7, and LeBron 8. 

Now, it looks like Flywire’s legacy will live on in the upcoming Nike Hypersmash. Based on the early images, the model essentially appears to be a low-cut version of the Hyperdunk with changes to make it suitable for tennis performance. Modifications include a reinforced toe box, exposed mesh for breathability and added lateral support from a TPU cage that extends from the midsole. 

Beyond sport, the Hyperdunk’s history includes a special pair that was created exclusively for the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama.

Despite the pending arrival of the Nike Hypersmash, there’s no word on a Hyperdunk retro. The “United We Rise” colorway was last rereleased in 2016.

The Nike Hypersmash is expected to debut during spring 2025. Retail pricing has not yet been confirmed.

Serena Williams’ Best Street Style Over the Years

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Paul Rodriguez took to Instagram Wednesday to tease the return of his landmark first signature sneaker.

The Nike SB P-Rod 1 Retro is widely expected to release in 2025 in celebration of the shoe’s 20th anniversary. Rodriguez, as well as his friend and internet personality Bear Degidio, shared a photo and video of the sneaker in its original white and black colorway from 2015. The same edition released again in 2015 for the first-ever P-Rod retro.

20 years after it began, the significance of P-Rod line cannot be overstated. The SB Dunk quickly helped Nike establish credibility in skateboarding after two previous attempts through lines that fell short of the mark, but securing P-Rod’s services as Nike SB’s first signature athlete represented a coup. Rodriguez, then only 20 years old, was already the sport’s most promising star when he signed in 2004, and his first X-Games gold medal that year followed by another in 2005 realized that potential.

Rodriguez would eventually go on to join an elite club of athletes to reach ten signature shoes from Nike, and by the time that happened Nike SB’s credibility in skateboarding had no longer been questioned in some time. Some even accused Rodriguez of selling out initially, but the later addition of Eric Koston and Steve Janoski, the namesake of another icon in the SB Janoski, helped dispel such notions as well.

Legendary designer Tinker Hatfield himself created the P-Rod 1, and he even threw in the Air Jordan 3’s signature elephant print for a colorway dubbed the “J-Rod.” On the tech front, the P-Rod 1 featured a cupsole for superior board feel bolstered by Zoom Air cushioning.

The Nike SB P-Rod 1 in its original black and white colorway is expected to release in spring 2025, and it could come at the forefront of a wider push for the 20-year old model. Pricing will be set at $110. Footwear News will keep you abreast of any updates.

About the Author:

Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.

JD Sports’ chief executive officer Régis Schultz gave a special shoutout to Nike when accepting the award for retailer of the year at the 2024 FNAAs on Wednesday evening.

“Nike is our number one partner in the world,” Schultz said, accepting the award that was presented by Jason Kirrer, Nike’s vice president of North America sales and marketplace.

Since entering the U.S. market in 2018 with the acquisition of Finish Line, the European retailer had made several efforts to leverage its relationships with key brands (like Nike) for North America-specific benefits. In August, JD said it had extended its retail partnership with Nike to offer the Nike Connected Membership program to its U.S. customers. With this expansion, JD’s U.S. customers were given access to select Nike member-only footwear and apparel when they opt to link their JD Status and Nike Membership accounts through the retailer’s website or mobile app. As of October, there were 5.1 million active members of the JD Status loyalty program in the U.S.

“Nike is a significant part of our business and a great brand partner,” John Hall, president and managing director of JD North America, told FN in an interview in November. “This was a way in which we could strengthen our partnership and increase our level of connectivity with our shared customers.”

Nike aside, JD takes pride in its broad assortment of footwear and apparel brands in its stores. Schultz was sure to to thank the retailer’s other key partners, many of whom were in the room that night, when accepting the award.

“I would like to thank the brands,” Schultz said. “We are a house of brands. We love brands. We want to serve you for the best purposes. We want to give you the access to our customers. That’s what we do for a living. We are passionate about giving the best experience to our customers [and being] the best translation of what you want to be for your customers.”

Schultz noted that JD Sports’ presence in the U.S is now at 2,500 stores, which includes 1,179 Hibbett stores that were added to its portfolio after its buzzy acquisition in July. He also said JD Sports will do $6 billion in sales in the U.S. in 2024.

“We will make more than $1 million profit and will invest most of this cash in new doors, in better propositions and in better stores,” Schultz said. “We love this industry and we are very proud to be here in the U.S. for you.”

For 38 years, the annual FN Achievement Awards — often called the “Shoe Oscars” — have celebrated the style stars, best brand stories, ardent philanthropists, emerging talents and industry veterans. The 2024 event is supported by sponsors Listrak, Marc Fisher, Nordstrom and Vibram. 

All the Photos From FN’s Portrait Studio at the FNAA 2024

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A Nike Kobe Bryant sneaker which was once exclusive to friends, family and the reigning World Series champions is scheduled to be released to the public next year.

The Los Angeles Dodgers-themed version of the Nike Kobe 6 Protro PE sneaker is now set for a retail launch after Bryant’s wife, Vanessa, gifted the shoes to the team in April 2024.

Utilizing Bryant’s sixth signature shoe, the unreleased style colors the sneaker’s scale-covered upper in Dodgers blue with white accents and Bryant’s number “8” on the heel in red. The late legend’s autograph appears in red on the back heel and a matching sheath logo is printed on the insole. 

Unique to this iteration of the shoe is baseball-style stitching, also in red, across the top of the tongue. The version of the sneaker gifted to Dodgers players came with white shoelaces, however newly leaked imagery shows the shoe with blue laces, so it’s possible that detail has been changed for the retail release. 

Despite Bryant’s career-long ties to Los Angeles, this is the first official Dodgers-themed Nike Kobe sneaker to be released. Another Kobe 6 sneaker, 2011’s “All-Star East LA” colorway, is also nicknamed “Dodgers” but did not have any formal connection to the franchise.

While Dodgers players received pairs of the Nike Kobe 6 PE in April, the sneaker was first spotted in September 2023 when Bryant’s daughter, Natalia, wore it while throwing the ceremonial first pitch at the team’s Lakers Night event. 

Also on the horizon for the Nike Kobe 6 Protro is a new “All-Star 2.0” colorway which replaces some of the design’s scale pattern with star shapes. That style is expected to be released in February for NBA All-Star Weekend.

Now, the Nike Kobe 6 Protro “Los Angeles Dodgers” PE is set for a release one year after the team received their pairs. It’s slated to be released for Nike’s 2025 “Mamba Day” celebration on April 13, the same day Bryant played his final NBA game in 2016. The style’s SKU is CW2190-400 and it’s expected to retail for $190.

NBA Stars Pay Tribute to Kobe Bryant With Sneakers On-Court

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Problems at Nike are bleeding into one of the brand’s top wholesale partners: Foot Locker.

The sneaker chain’s stock dropped on Wednesday morning after it reported a sales and earnings miss in the third quarter, in part driven by a weaker consumer and an overly promotional environment. And in a call with analysts, Foot Locker chief commercial officer Frank Bracken noted that among other challenges, the chain was “contending with some more recent softness” from Nike, its largest brand partner, which also impacted Q3 results.

To address a general decline in demand for Nike and Jordan products, the Swoosh has recently set out to reduce the presence of its popular franchises, such as the Air Force 1, Air Jordan 1 and Dunk. At the same time, Nike has utilized promotions to manage higher levels of inventory that have accumulated as a result of slower than expected retail sales. As such, partners like Foot Locker have faced competition from deeper discounts during the fall season this year compared to the prior year.

“As Nike rebalances their product mix, inventory levels in the near term across the basketball classics franchises we are seeing some short-term negative impacts on our business,” Bracken said. “We are seeing higher promotional levels in the marketplace across both DTC and competition which is having a cascading impact as we need to react and compete with those dynamics headed into the holiday season.”

For the third quarter, Foot Locker revenues were down 1.4 percent to $1.958 billion, short of the $2 billion expected by analysts surveyed by Yahoo Finance. Net loss was $33 million in the third quarter, compared with a net income of $28 million in Q3 the prior year. Non-GAAP earnings per share was 33 cents, which was short of analysts’ expectations of 40 cents. When it came to brand mix, Foot Locker’s percentage of non-Nike brand sales held steady at 40 percent, in line with the company’s goal to have more than 40 percent of its brand mix be outside Nike by 2026. In this realm, brands like Hoka, On, Adidas and New Balance were standouts this quarter.

“We have a nice mix and a broad diverse portfolio of brands,” Foot Locker chief executive officer Mary Dillon told FN in an interview. “And our customers are showing that they like having choice.”

Nike is still Foot Locker’s largest brand partner by a long shot. But despite the slowdown at the Swoosh, Foot Locker executives were confident about the future of its partnership with Nike, which is now helmed by a slew of new leaders including Elliott Hill in the CEO spot.

“We feel really great about our partnership with Nike and our key areas of strategic focus together around basketball, sneaker culture and kids,” Dillon said in a call with analysts, highlighting Foot Locker’s recent efforts to create special Nike and Jordan branded outposts inside some stores to highlight basketball‘s central roll in sneaker culture.

“While we work through some of the short-term pressure on some of the sell-throughs in some of the classics and lifestyle running, we are seeing that rightsize throughout the quarter,” Bracken said. “And as we work into 2025, we feel that there’ll be a better demand balance.”

In addition to the 2025 return of the “Pearl” Nike Air Foamposite Pro famously featured in Spike Lee’s “He Got Game,” the model will also be making a comeback in a lesser-seen yet revered look.

According to @zsneakerheadz and Sneaker Files, the Nike Air Foamposite Pro in “Pine Green” is slated for a holiday ’25 retro release. This will be the first time the colorway has been reissued following its debut appearance in September 2011. Considerably more subtle than some of the more vibrant and graphic-adorned Foamposite releases from its era, the “Pine Green” colorway mixes the forest green shade with black accents including on its lateral Swoosh logo.

A closer look at the green Foamposite material reveals an iridescent color-shifting treatment similar to what is seen on the recently reissued Nike Air Flightposite in metallic gold. Hints of purple can be seen in the “Pine Green” look depending on how the light hits it. And less than a year after the original “Pine Green,” Nike issued an Air Foamposite Pro in “Gym Green” which leaned more toward the purple side of the color spectrum. 

The Air Foamposite Pro model was originally released in 1997 alongside Penny Hardaway’s Air Foamposite One signature sneaker. Unlike the latter, which featured Hardaway’s “1 Cent” logo on the tongue, heel and outsole, the Air Foamposite Pro was not tied to a specific player.

Its upper uses the same heat-molded manufacturing process and features Zoom Air cushioning, but the Air Foamposite Pro added a large TPU Swoosh on the lateral side and replaced Hardaway’s logos with that of Nike’s. In addition to appearing in “He Got Game,” where it was worn by Ray Allen’s Jesus Shuttlesworth character, the Air Foamposite Pro was worn on the NBA court by players such as Tim Duncan.

Although the “Pine Green” Air Foamposite Pro wasn’t connected to an athlete or celebrity, its unique colorway made it a hit with fans of the sneaker franchise in ’11. A year later, in February 2012, the much-hyped “Galaxy” Air Foamposite One was released, which brought new levels of attention to both models.

The Nike Air Foamposite Pro “Pine Green” is expected to be released during the holiday ’25 season at a retail price of $230. The ’11 iteration is pictured here.

Nike Previews Its Key Sneaker Releases for Fall 2024 Through Spring 2025 [Photos]

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Drake’s “Certified Lover Boy Era” isn’t over — at least when it comes to sneakers.

Following the release of his all-white Air Force 1 Low “Love You Forever” in 2022, the rapper is now adding color to the amorous sneaker to release alongside a restock of the original. “Citron” yellow and “Palest Purple” colorways will release next week with monochrome pastel looks.

Both colorways are rendered entirely in their namesake color, including through a translucent sole unit bearing “Love You Forever” in raised script on the midsole. The heel of the insole then takes on a metallic finish with Nocta branding, appearing in gold for the “Citron” edition” and silver for “Palest Purple.” Each also features two sets of laces with silver tips to match the eyelets, as well as friendship bracelet-style beads in either yellow or purple. Rounding out the flourishes is mismatched mustache branding with Nocta’s mark on the left heel.

Leaks have also indicated other pastel colorways are on the way, but no such images have surfaced yet.

The revival of Drake’s Air Force 1 Low comes after his Nocta Hot Step 2 silhouette debuted in the spring. Additional colorways for the Air Zoom Flight 95-inspired model have since followed, but Drake’s Nike Nocta line has been much more prolific on the apparel front. The musician is also expected to land an Air Max Plus collaboration in 2025.

Drake’s Nike x Nocta Air Force 1 Low in “Triple White,” “Citron” and “Palest Purple” will release December 11. Select third-party retailers have already confirmed the drop, with the Snkrs launch likely coordinated for the same time. Pricing is set at $160.

About the Author:

Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.

Jordan Chiles opted for a vibrant, colorful look for The Wrap’s 2024 Power Women Summit in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

The Olympic gymnast wore a bright blue dress seen on the runway this fall at Christian Cowan’s spring 2025 fashion show. On top, the attention-grabbing look featured a pointed collar with a v-shaped neckline and billowy sleeves with silky ruffled cuffs. The rest of the design included a sash at the waist and a flouncy, tutu-like mini-skirt. Chiles styled the playful dress with one sleeve off the shoulder, revealing a smattering of tiny tattoos.

As for shoes, the Nike athlete donned Atiimu’s “Muzzi” ankle-strap sandals. The glamorous style from the Italian brand boasts silver metallic leather straps that provide a glistening mirrored effect. Their most prominent feature is Atiimu’s signature pear-shaped green gemstones adorning the skinny silver stiletto heel and the back of the ankle strap. Also offered in pink and gold versions, the sandals rest on a high 4.1-inch heel.

The style is also designed with black leather, pointed-toe soles and silver A charms at the ankle. According to the brand’s website, the gemstones are made of high-grade acrylic. The exact style is available online for $1,035.

Chiles complemented her bold look with an updo hairstyle, chunky diamond hoop earrings, and a glamorous manicure. This follows the “I’m That Girl” author’s appearance at the GQ Men of the Year Awards last month. She wore a striking silver metallic suit paired with sleek black Christian Louboutin pumps for the annual star-studded event.

When Chiles is dressed down, you’re likely to find her wearing Nike sneakers. Recently, she wore a pair of white Nike Shox R4 sneakers while attending the 2024 US Open in New York City. A quick look at her Instagram also makes it clear she’s a fan of crisp white Air Force 1s, a staple in most sneakerhead’s closets. The Olympian has also modeled furry statement boots and a sultry thigh-high style on social media this past fall.

Christian Cowan Fall/Winter 2024 Collection, Photos

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