Adelaide-based basketball apparel brand FBL Sport has partnered with Australian basketball player Shyla Heal.
Heal had reportedly turned down traditional endorsement offers from well-known multinational brands to instead partner with an up-and-coming Australian company.
The deal includes the launch of the first Australian signature shoe named after an Australian basketball player.
In addition to the shoe, which retails for $120, the lineup includes a basketball, a cap and a three-pack of socks, with prices starting at $19.95.
Heal is 22 years old and has been playing professional basketball since she was 14. Over the course of her career, she has won a WNBL championship, been drafted into the WNBA, represented Australia and played for a handful of clubs across Europe.
“I remember when I was a kid, every time I needed a new pair of basketball shoes I would either have to go out and find a small pair of men’s shoes or buy netball shoes,” Heal said. “When I talk to young families across the country I can tell that this is still happening today. It’s just crazy to me when you see how many women and young girls are playing basketball.”
According to FBL and Heal, more than 1.3 million Australians play organised basketball in Australia this year, including more than 400,000 women, and many hundreds of thousands play just for fun. They also claim that Australian schools have shown record interest in basketball, the second biggest sport in Australia, and that it is estimated that around 750,000 six- to 13-year-olds play regularly.
A 2018 study by Roy Morgan found that nearly 1 million Australians played basketball regularly or occasionally, including 667,000 men and 324,000 women.
“It’s also important for me to convey a motivational message with my profile and these shoes,” Heal said. “Whenever someone looks down at their shoes or bends down to tie their shoelaces, I want to remind them that they can achieve anything, whether it’s on the court or in life.”
“I’ve had my critics, I’ve had setbacks, and that’s something I tell myself every day to keep going.”
In an Australian first, Heal joins an exclusive list of international players who own their own shoe, including Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart.
“The growing interest in women’s sport in Australia, most recently highlighted by the success of our athletes in Paris, including our amazing bronze Australian opals, shows that young Australian girls can look up to the best in the world, right in their own backyard,” said FBL founder Steve Rolton.
“From our first conversations to today, Shyla has proven to be an incredible collaborator and partner, with a strong vision for her signature shoe and what it can represent to inspire young women across the country.
“Shyla is more than just a phenomenal athlete; she is a symbol of strength and resilience.
“In a sport traditionally dominated by larger athletes, she has blazed her own trail and inspired countless young girls to dream big and reach for the stars. Her influence extends beyond the court as she uses her platform to advocate for equality and inclusivity in sport and beyond.”
The shoe will be sold online at FBL Sport and will be available at select retailers starting September 5th.
