Earlier this morning, the KT1 (working name) was officially launched by Thompson and ANTA. The colorful high-top shoe features a Dub Nation design, a textured upper, anatomic map traction pattern on the outsole, printed interior, and a heel overlay. The Golden State Warriors emblem is visible on the tongue, marking a perk of the brand’s arrangement to become the NBA’s official merchandiser in China last year.

 

(as of 8/22) An intriguing development in this story, as promised. Chinese sources we consulted have confirmed that the shoe in question is not the ANTA KT1. The SharkWeb Control is the official name, and it most likely refers to the technology used in making the upper. The specifics of the KT1’s debut are now under discussion between ANTA and Thompson.

 

Dо𝚗’t lеаᴠе us Һа𝚗ɡι𝚗ɡ; wе stιll 𝚗ееԀ tо Һеаɾ аbоut tҺе ɾеlеаsе Ԁаtе а𝚗Ԁ ρɾιcе.

(аs оf 8/22) а𝚗 ι𝚗tɾιɡuι𝚗ɡ Ԁеᴠеlоρmе𝚗t ι𝚗 tҺιs stоɾy, аs ρɾоmιsеԀ. TҺе CҺι𝚗еsе sоuɾcеs wе cо𝚗sultеԀ Һаᴠе cо𝚗fιɾmеԀ tҺаt tҺе sҺое ι𝚗 quеstιо𝚗 ιs 𝚗оt tҺе аNTа KT1. TҺе SҺаɾƙWеb Cо𝚗tɾоl ιs tҺе оffιcιаl 𝚗аmе, а𝚗Ԁ ιt mоst lιƙеly аlluԀеs tо tҺе tеcҺ𝚗оlоɡy tҺаt wе𝚗t ι𝚗tо mаƙι𝚗ɡ tҺе uρρеɾ. TҺе sρеcιfιcs оf tҺе KT1’s Ԁеbut аɾе 𝚗оw u𝚗Ԁеɾ Ԁιscussιо𝚗 bеtwее𝚗 аNTа а𝚗Ԁ TҺоmρsо𝚗.

TҺе mσst mаɾƙеtаblе WNBA stаɾ, аccσɾԀι𝚗ɡ tσ Dɾаymσ𝚗Ԁ, ιs Wιlsσ𝚗, 𝚗σt Clаɾƙ

The most marketable WNBA star, according to Draymond Green, is Wilson, not Clark. An increasing number of people are tuning in to see the WNBA and other women’s sports every year.

Players like Cameron Brink of the Los Angeles Sparks, Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky, and, of course, Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever have made the 2024 rookie draft class the most talked-about in recent memory.

Warriors’ senior forward Draymond Green was quick to offer Clark and the rookie class flowers for being a bright new light for the W, but Green thinks the WNBA should have taken advantage of the opportunity to promote A’ja Wilson, the center for the Las Vegas Aces, years ago.

That Caitlin Clark is absolutely fantastic is not something I am claiming. Green stated on his podcast “The Draymond Green Show” that if one wanted his opinion, they could ask A’ja Wilson. When it comes to the WNBA, A’ja Wilson is second to none. I don’t think it’s just Caitlin Clark; A’ja Wilson is fantastic too. All I see when I think of America is A’ja Wilson. From humble beginnings in a two-parent home, this young Black girl overcame insurmountable obstacles to become the most legendary player in WNBA history. To be completely honest, I feel that way.

I believe A’ja Wilson has as much potential as any WNBA player, but you need to find a way to promote her. So, I’m not going to pretend that Caitlin Clark hasn’t contributed to the WNBA. Yes, she has; that is false. In other words, she will keep on. My presumption is incorrect; it’s not only her. You have A’ja Wilson, who is as marketable as anybody, sitting on a WNBA gold mine that you haven’t yet discovered how to exploit. It’s not my fault. A’ja has a lot of highly marketable qualities. After a stellar career at South Carolina, 27-year-old Wilson was the first overall pick by the Las Vegas Golden Knights in the 2018 WNBA Draft. After seven seasons and 195 games, her averages are 20.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.8 blocks on 49.1% shooting.

When it comes to rebounds per game, 2-point field goals, and 2-point field goal attempts, the 6-foot-4 big is now atop the league.

She was named WNBA Most Valuable Player twice and Defensive Player of the Year for two years in a row, in addition to winning Rookie of the Year in 2018.

The two-time WNBA champion and 2020 Olympic gold winner is displaying no signs of slowing down either, with an average of 26.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.8 blocks in six games this season on a 48.4% shooting clip.

Despite Wilson’s undeniable brilliance, the impact of Clark has attracted record-breaking viewership across the country, even though she joined the league six years ago.

Things haven’t gone swimmingly for Clark since she joined the WNBA. The standout rookie, who went first overall to Indiana, is averaging 15.6 points, 35.7% from the field, 29.7% from outside the arc, 5.1 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game.

Although her production hasn’t been the only subject of the headlines surrounding her, opposing veterans have roughed up Clark and questioned her value to the WNBA in online writings.

The league can applaud Clark and a number of other rookies for attracting new viewership, even though Green thinks the W blew a marketing chance with Wilson. And they’re still turning in, whether to see Clark’s pinpoint shooting or Wilson’s dominance in the paint. Everyone benefits from that.