A 24-year-old CEO backed by Mark Cuban created basketball kicks specially designed for women — and now WNBA and college stars are on board

Moolah Kicks founder and CEO Natalie White. Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty Images Moolah Kicks is a women’s basketball brand that designs shoes specifically made for women’s feet. Founded by 24-year-old Natalie White and backed by Mark Cuban, the brand has deals with WNBA and NCAA stars.

Moolah sneakers, including the new Neovolt Pro, are sold nationwide at DICK’s Sporting Goods stores. As a lifelong hoopster, Natalie White was used to shopping in the men’s or kids’ departments when she needed a fresh pair of basketball sneakers. But by the time she was a senior in college, she realized just how misguided it was that women’s basketball players had no choice but to sport shoes designed by and for men.

“I remember seeing an advertisement that had four of the top WNBA players, their profiles, holding up sneakers that weren’t only men’s, but named after male players,” White said during a 2022 TEDx Talk. “And I said, ‘We have to change this. ‘”So she set out to make her own shoes, and Moolah Kicks was born.

A post shared by MOOLAH KICKS (@moolahkicks)  Now, at just 24 years old, White has developed the resulting company — which is backed by Mark Cuban, the Dallas Mavericks owner of “Shark Tank” fame — into a brand shaking up the sneaker space. Sold nationwide at DICK’s Sporting Goods stores, Moolah Kicks are specially designed to fit women’s feet and prevent the catastrophic leg injuries that disproportionately impact female ballers. “Natalie has an amazing feel for what athletes want,” Cuban said.

“The shoes are beautiful, great in-game, and affordable. I’m proud to be her partner. “The brand’s latest release — the Neovolt Pro — epitomizes the innovative nature of White’s initial idea by helping elongate the playing careers of young women in the sport.

With a cushioned midsole that offers extra bounce with each step, secure heel clips and wide, webbed laces that lock the foot into place, and a foam interior that molds to each individual’s unique shape, the shoe is engineered to mitigate knee and ankle injuries while still offering players the power and flexibility necessary to compete at the highest levels of basketball. Moolah Kicks’ latest release: the Neovolt Pro. Moolah KicksUnsurprisingly, the top talents in women’s basketball are excited about White’s revolutionary concept.

Moolah Kicks has inked deals with several women’s college basketball stars, including Seton Hall’s Lauren Park, Mississippi State’s Nyayongah Gony, Baylor’s Aijha Blackwell, Arizona’s Lauren Ware, Ohio State’s Cotie McMahon, Alabama’s Myra Gordon, USC’s Madison Campbell, Kentucky’s Blair Green, North Carolina’s Eva Hodgson, Penn State’s Anna Camden, Villanova’s Kylie Swider, NC State’s Saniya Rivers, and more. And most recently, Moolah Kicks has added UConn Huskies star Caroline Ducharme and WNBA point guard Destanni Henderson to its impressive lineup. Both players will sport the state-of-the-art sneakers as two of the most high-profile ambassadors for the brand.

“As an entrepreneur myself, I love that fact that Moolah Kicks is a woman-owned brand dedicated to making premium performance basketball shoes exclusively for women and girls,” Henderson, a 2022 national champion with the South Carolina Gamecocks, said. “The shoes are more comfortable than anything I have ever worn before, and the quality is definitely there. I am excited to partner with Moolah Kicks and be an ambassador for a brand I believe in.

“Destanni Henderson. AP Photo/Terrance Williams”I love that Moolah Kicks is a brand that exclusively supports and elevates women’s basketball,” Ducharme added. “Having shoes that are made specifically for women’s feet makes a huge difference.

They are so comfortable — I love playing in them. “Fans can grab their own pair of Moolah Kicks, including the new Neovolt Pros, online or in more than 450 DICK’s Sporting Goods stores across the country. The four colorways — black and gold, navy and blue, white and silver, and orange and pink — retail for $125.

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