"I see them I think Kobe" - Sneakerheads crown Sabrina Ionescu's gold medal game PE shoes as 'best in the market'

By Mathews Kannanthara

Modified Aug 12, 2024 13:04 GMT

New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu clinched her first Olympic gold medal on Sunday as Team USA secured its eighth-straight Olympic gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Ionescu wore the “Gold Medal” Nike Sabrina 2 PEs for the final matchup against France, which many sneakerheads on Instagram acclaimed as one of the best kicks available.

"Every time I see them I think Kobe… they 🔥 tho," a fan commented.

"yo she might have the best signature across the board right now these shit 🔥🔥🔥," another wrote.

"She low key got one of the best signature sneakers 👟," a fan posted.

"Best shoes in sports," one Instagram user said.

"She got some of the best kicks in the league," a fan commented.

"Better than majority of the men’s that’s signed on to the brand," another posted.

Fans react to Ionescu's “Gold Medal” Nike Sabrina 2 PEs

Sporting the “Gold Medal” Nike Sabrina 2 PEs, Sabrina Ionescu played 10 minutes off the bench in Sunday's gold medal game, grabbing two rebounds and dishing three assists. With the Olympic win, she added a second world championship to her growing list of accolades after she previously won the gold medal with Team USA at the 2022 FIBA World Cup.

Sabrina Ionescu rushes to embrace Kobe Bryant's wife and daughters after thrilling end to USA's gold medal win

After Team USA clinched the nail-biting 67-66 victory against France on Sunday, Sabrina Ionescu shared a special moment with Kobe Bryant's wife Vanessa Bryant and their daughters. After celebrating the win with her team, Ionescu rushed to embrace the Bryant girls who were cheering from courtside.

Before their tragic deaths in 2020, Sabrina Ionescu had a close relationship with Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, after meeting them while she played at Oregon. Their deaths had a devastating impact on her, and she delivered a moving message during their memorial ceremony.

"I carry Kobe and Gigi with me every day and honor their legacies through my dedication to the game," Ionescu said during the service. "I wake up every day grateful for the platform I've been given and I strive to lead by example and serve as a role model for young people and especially girls to pursue sports — a platform Kobe and Gigi were passionate about."

In her first Olympic appearance, Sabrina Ionescu averaged 5.5 points, 1.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists off the bench. She played more of a complementary role for Team USA and had her best Olympic outing in the opening matchup against Japan, where she recorded 11 points and five assists in a blowout win.