A player exclusive that never once hit shelves is finally getting its moment after all these years. Nike has announced the first-ever public release of the LeBron 9 PE "Diana Taurasi," the black and purple colorway originally crafted for the WNBA legend that had always stayed exclusive to her own feet — never making it to market.
The shoe is built on a black base with purple accents running throughout, echoing the team colors from Taurasi's time with the Phoenix Mercury. Throughout her career, Taurasi received several exclusive colorways from LeBron's signature line, but this particular pair never got its release. The timing also lands right after the Mercury retired her No. 3 jersey, adding another chapter to her long-standing relationship with Nike and LeBron James's signature sneaker line.
This comeback is also a big deal for the LeBron 9 silhouette itself. Nike last brought back the LeBron 9 in 2022, meaning this "Diana Taurasi" PE marks the model's first new colorway in nearly five years.
The Diana Taurasi Nike LeBron 9 PE is expected to release on February 19, 2027, during NBA All-Star Weekend in Phoenix, with a retail price of $250.
