Nike Kobe 9 Elite Low EM Protro “WNBA” Expected Summer 2026

In life, Kobe Bryant was one of the most visible proponents of the WNBA and women's sports in general, attending games, connecting with athletes, and rocking an orange-and-white hoodie with the league's logo. Come Summer 2026, the late NBA superstar's Nike Kobe 9 Elite Low EM Protro is expected to land in an "Orange Frost" look deserving of a WNBA association.

According to Sole Retriever, the Performance Retro boasts a medley of "Ice Peach/Brilliant Orange/Summit White" to accompany the aforementioned citrus hue. It's expected that the bulk of the Nike Basketball design sees orange finishes, with black-and-white being relegated to the game-ready sole unit. It's unclear whether or not WNBA logos will appear on the Nike Kobe reissue; it's possible select players within the Women's National Basketball Association will be gifted a special edition of the release that does feature this detail, alongside their jersey numbers. Only time will tell, however.

Firm Nike.com launch details have yet to be disclosed by the brand, but that's expected to change by April 2026. Stay tuned for more information and product shots.

For more performance models from the Swoosh empire, check out the LeBron 23.