Ross Dwyer The ladies of the WNBA love a fresh pair kicks just as much as their NBA counterparts do. Sheryl Swoopes’ Air Swoopes 2 is a cult favorite among Nike Basketball fans. Maya Moore is a Jordan Brand athlete and has received special Air Jordan 1s and Air Jordan 11s. Yes, the leading ladies of the WNBA get down with their kick game … but none can compete with Tamara “Ty” Young of the Las Vegas Aces and her 500+ pair collection, accumulated over her 15 years in the sneaker game.
Young’s favorite silhouette is the Air Jordan 1, but she’s also got a special place in her heart for the Air Jordan 8—the “Aqua” is her favorite. Rounding out her top 5 Jordan silhouettes are the Air Jordan 11, Air Jordan 12 (her first Jordan ever was a “Taxi” 12), and Air Jordan 13. In an interesting twist, Young actually attended Laney High School—Michael Jordan’s alma matter—and her number 11 hangs in the rafters, next to MJ’s 23. During college, Young also worked at sneaker stores during the summer just to get a discount on shoes—a hustle many a sneakerhead can relate to—and flipped pairs on eBay as well to make sure she could keep her rotation up to date with the newest drops. Her coach during her college years at James Madison used the school’s Nike contract to be sure she always had something fresh to play in, and she “went crazy” when she got to the WNBA and had money to spend on her collection. Despite all her sneaker knowledge Young still doesn’t have an official deal, but she’s not fazed. In her own words, she’s “still out here making history.”
For the full story on the WNBA’s sneaker queen, head over to The Undefeated, and be sure to check out our Jordan Release Dates page so you can stay up to date on all the latest and greatest Jumpman drops.
