Exclusive: Holo Footwear Reveals WNBA Standout Jacy Sheldon’s First Signature Shoe
Jacy Sheldon is the WNBA’s newest signature athlete.
Speaking exclusively with FN in August 2024, Holo Footwear revealed it had signed the Connecticut Sun guard, offering her both equity in the company and a signature shoe line. And now her first shoe, the JS:01, is here.
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Sheldon is in rare company, joining the likes of Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu of the New York Liberty and A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces as the only active WNBA players with signature shoes.
“At this point in our game, any time a woman has the opportunity to get a shoe — and even equity — it’s huge,” Sheldon told FN. “I’m super excited to be a part of that small group and hopefully, as we continue getting more attention, the amount of shoes skyrockets.”
The Holo Footwear team met Sheldon in June 2024 at a dinner after a Dallas Wings game, her former team. Chief executive officer Rommel Vega told FN that they showed up with six initial concepts for a shoe and started sampling within 30 days of the initial meeting.
“We wanted to make it unique to her, from a design language [point of view], something that’s not out there. It’s obviously women’s-specific. We spared no expenses from what she wanted in the shoe,” Vega said.
In terms of its construction, the highlight of the JS:01 is the external midsole, which is made from Holo’s newest Honest Foam Elite+. This is paired with a high-energy return internal midsole that is made from a super critical foam. It also includes a carbon fiber plate for midfoot torsion, as well as a TPU stabilizer in the arch and high-wrapping rubber outsoles for both lateral containment and traction. As for the upper, Holo opted for a full-bootie construction to offer a sock-like feel.
As for the design language, the shoes include plenty of subtle nods to Sheldon. For instance, the TPU stabilizer on the lateral side (which wraps around to the medial side) resembles the letter “O” for her home state of Ohio. There’s a flowing elliptical pattern on the uppers is inspired by her unparalleled speed on the court.
“We wanted this to be dynamic. The concept of the shoe is ‘go elusive,’ and it’s really taking after Jacy’s game,” Vega explained. “She’s elusive. She’s quick. All the ellipses are meant to be like when you blow by somebody, you see a blur.”
There are plenty of nods to Sheldon’s family, too. On the outsoles, for instance, there are five circles that Holo stated represent her on court and off-court families. And on the heel tabs, one reads “L.E.A.D.,” which are the other the initials of her family members (Laura, Emmy, Ajay and Duane). The other has “I get to” printed onto it, a mantra inspired by her 17-year-old sister Emmy’s journey, who was born with Down syndrome.
“She is having the best time, is happy as ever, but she won’t have the same experiences that you and I do. Things like playing in college, playing in the pro level, having a shoe,” Sheldon explained. “The way I look at life, instead of you have to do things, I look at it like I get to do these things.”
Emmy is also shouted out on her sister’s signature logo, which is an interlocking “JS” that has three arrows in the “S.” Those arrows are synonymous with people who have Down syndrome and their families, and are used as a symbol to rise up and move forward.
Although the JS:01 is loaded with tech, it will debut in May with a $120 retail price. Vega confirmed the shoe will launch exclusively at Dick’s Sporting Goods and they will offer seven colorways, one for every month of the WNBA. The first colorway to drop is a pink-and-white look dubbed “Bubblegum.”
Looking ahead, Vega confirmed Holo is working on Sheldon’s second shoe, as well as a women’s fashion line that he said will launch at Nordstrom in 2026. Also, the brand is working on the second signature shoe for Isaac Okoro of the Cleveland Cavaliers, which will debut in the fall.
“This Jacy shoe is really the tip of the spear, that’s where we’re really going to get the brand cranking,” Vega said.
About the Author
Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.
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