WNBL star Shyla Heal made basketball history by becoming the first Australian player to release her own signature shoe.
She has teamed up with Australian brand FBL Sport to release the white and pink shoe, which is currently available for pre-order on the brand’s website.
The 22-year-old Heal is one of the most dominant players in the WNBL and the FBL is clearly banking on her promising future by awarding her one of basketball’s highest honors in the form of a signature sneaker.
WNBL star Shyla Heal releases signature shoe
FBL Sport, an Adelaide-based sneaker and sportswear company, has officially entered the WNBL space and announced Shyla Heal as its first-ever signature athlete.
A WNBL champion with the Townsville Fire, Heal also impressed with teams in Poland, Israel and France and was also in top form during the NBL1 season, including back-to-back 50-point performances for the Sydney Comets.
According to Heal, the inspiration for developing this shoe came from her efforts as a teenager to find high-performance basketball shoes for women.
“I remember clearly when I was a kid. Whenever I needed a new pair of basketball shoes, I would either try to find a small pair of men’s shoes or I would have to buy netball shoes,” Heal said in a press release.
“When I talk to young families across the country, it’s still like that today. It’s just crazy to me when you see how many women and young girls are playing basketball,
“It’s also important to me to convey a motivational message with my profile and these shoes. Every time someone looks down at their shoe or bends down to tie their shoelaces, I want to remind them that they can achieve anything, be it on the field or in life.”
“I’ve had my critics, I’ve had setbacks, and that’s something I tell myself every day to keep going.”
FBL founder Steve Rolton was one of the signatories and had high praise for his brand’s first signature athlete.
“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,” he said.
“Shyla is more than just a phenomenal athlete; she is a symbol of empowerment 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 boundaries of the court as she uses her platform to advocate for equality and inclusivity in sport and beyond.”
How many Australian basketball players have signature shoes?
With today’s announcement, Heal joins an ultra-exclusive club of Australian basketball players releasing their own signature sneaker.
Heal is only the fourth Australian basketball player to release a shoe, alongside Andrew Gaze, Matthew Dellavedova and Kyrie Irving.
Names like Lauren Jackson, Patty Mills and Ben Simmons have all received Personal Editions (PEs) of existing models, but have not yet released their own signature shoes.
