UCLA’s sophomore standout Kiki Rice made headlines in 2022 when she became the first to sign an NIL deal with Jordan.
Recently, Jordan unveiled Rice’s first player edition shoe. The Air Jordan 38 Low shoe titled “Cherry Blossom” is a tribute to her hometown of Washington, D.C. The 2022 Gatorade National Player of the Year, Rice, has already made her mark in Westwood.
Racking up awards in her freshman campaign, including a Pac-12 All-Freshman Team selection, Rice has played big minutes for the Bruins this season. Fourth in scoring on the team with 12.4 points per game, Rice adds five assists, five rebounds, and nearly two steals a game to her stat line.
In 2022, Kiki Rice became Jordan Brand’s first NIL athlete.
Now, the UCLA star has become the first NIL athlete to receive her own player edition shoe.
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) February 5, 2024
With the Bruins rolling right now, ranked ninth in the nation, it is the perfect time for Rice’s shoe to drop. And based on Rice’s production on the court and UCLA’s successes this season, their game to sign a high school athlete in 2022 to a deal could not have gone more perfectly.
Be on the watch for Rice’s “Cherry Blossom” shoes this weekend as the Bruins take on Arizona and Arizona State.