Only one sneaker logged more minutes in the NBA last season than Sabrina Ionescu’s Nike Sabrina 2.
That’s according to Kix Stats, which monitors shoes worn in the NBA and WNBA and found only that the Nike Kobe 6 Protro, one of the most lauded sneakers in the history of the sport, was more popular in the 2024-25 season.
Now, Nike is unveiling the next model in Ionescu’s signature line, another sneaker you’re likely to see dominate on professional courts.
The Nike Sabrina 3 can be seen as the Swoosh’s effort to not mess up a good thing. It maintains its predecessor’s combination of Cushlon 3.0 foam and a forefoot Air Zoom unit to deliver a familiar feeling underfoot, and the continued DNA is also readily apparent in an upper that brings back Ionescu’s hallmark vertical Swoosh.
Much more visible this time around, however, is the enhanced containment system, which sees a series of cables tunneling their way through pleats at midfoot. Around the toe and collar, you’ll see gradient embroidery continuing the series’ references to Ionescu’s Romanian roots. And rather than herringbone, the outsole now utilizes a concentric “S” pattern.
A pull-apart sketch of the Nike Sabrina 3.
“The Sabrina 3 builds on the consistency we’ve established with Sabrina’s first two signature silhouettes while evolving the look and feel of the shoe to match her needs on the court and further reflect her personal story and style,” Ben Nethongkome, lead designer for Nike Sabrina footwear, said in a press release. “The Sabrina 1 and 2 made her signature line a go-to choice for hoopers around the world, and we wanted to keep that standout performance and consistency while helping make Sabrina, and the athletes who wear her shoe, even faster, stronger and more confident in every step.”
Ionescu became the first women’s basketball player to get a unisex sneaker upon the launch of the Sabrina 1 in 2023. Pros quickly latched onto the model, and the Sabrina 2, which expanded into kids’ sizing, was even more popular. A lowercase “i” on the heel marks another through-line in the series with its faint appearance on the Sabrina 3 and gets an additional placement through a cut-out on the outsole.
The Nike Sabrina 3 will release on July 24 through Nike’s website and select third-party retailers. Pricing is set at $135.
Nike Sabrina 3 campaign image.
Nike Sabrina 3 Blueprint (lateral)
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Nike Sabrina 3 Blueprint (outsole)
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Nike Sabrina 3 Blueprint (tongue detail)
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Nike Sabrina 3 Blueprint (heel detail)
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