Now this is a sneaker which we can get behind. Basketball star and Olympic gold medalist, Elena Delle Donne has teamed up with Nike to create a very special shoe. Drawing insight from her sister, Lizzie, who lives with disabilities, Donne and Nike created the Nike Air Zoom UNVRS.

The basketball shoe introduces a new FlyEase system for easy entry and exit, and is the first Nike shoe built with this feature from the ground up. Oh yes, and the shoe itself is pretty damn hot. 

Nike FlyEase footwear starts with a clear design philosophy: take insights and inspiration from athletes with disabilities to create smarter and better-designed footwear that works for athletes of all abilities. 

To be classified as Nike FlyEase footwear must meet at least two out of three design criteria:

1.    Easy open and close

2.    Easy to get in and out of

3.    Adjustability that accommodates different foot shapes and sizes 

Nike believes the Air Zoom UNVRS radically redefines how players get into their shoes with a FlyEase technology built with a magnetized heel that folds down and connects to the midsole. This function opens the shoe up so that it is quick and easy to put on and take off, with wearers able to efficiently slide the foot in and out with no hands. The shoe is also fortified by an articulated strap that engages Flywire cables to allow for a one-handed, two-motion customised and secure fit. The technology is an example of how, by designing more inclusively, Nike is creating solutions that benefit everyone.

So what do you have underfoot? Nike provides full-length, articulated Nike Air Zoom cushioning that offers quick responsiveness. The shoe's upper, which has the same Flyknit as the Nike Alphadunk, is engineered for durability. As to when to expect the Nike Air Zoom UNVRS - it’s arriving Stateside in November.

Have to what Donne and the folks at Nike have to say about the shoe here: