7 Best Nike Basketball Shoes For Women, 90+ Shoes Tested in 2023

Dimitrije Curcic
Dimitrije Curcic on
| Reviewed using methodology 1.5
7 Best Nike Basketball Shoes For Women, 90+ Shoes Tested in 2023

Like basketball shoes from other brands, Nike hoop shoes are also geared primarily towards men. There is also no shortage of male brand ambassadors. LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Paul George are just among the most recognizable endorsers of the Swoosh.

Even so, most if not all of Nike's offers are available in women's sizing. This gives women as many options as men. As a result, choosing the right Nike basketball shoes can be as taxing for the ladies as it is for the gents. To help you out, we present here the most outstanding women's Nike basketball shoes. 

Best overall
Nike KD 15 Nike KD 15
$150 $128 From Nike
Best low top
Nike Cosmic Unity 2 Nike Cosmic Unity 2
$160 $88 From Nike
Best high top
Nike Kobe AD NXT FastFit Nike Kobe AD NXT FastFit
$430 From Amazon
Best outdoor
Nike Kybrid S2 Nike Kybrid S2
$250 From Amazon
Best mid top
Nike Lebron Witness 6 Nike Lebron Witness 6
$100 $66 From Nike
Best value
Nike KD Trey 5 X Nike KD Trey 5 X
$95 $81 From Nike
Most popular
Nike Zoom Freak 4 Nike Zoom Freak 4
$130 $72 From Nike
See all 94 women's nike basketball shoes
Table of contents How we test basketball shoesBest overallBest low topBest high topBest outdoorBest mid topBest valueMost popularComparison
Overview

How we test basketball shoes

While we are grateful for those who offer to give us shoes, our reviewers here at RunRepeat steer clear of them. The freebies may cloud their judgment, rendering us unable to give you a complete and unbiased picture of the shoes that we test.

Besides saying no to freebies, we also do the following to ensure the objectivity of our assessments:

  • before we write reviews, we make sure that we played in the shoes
  • we also consider the inputs of other testers, especially those outside RunRepeat, for a more holistic assessment

Best women's Nike basketball shoes overall

Nike KD 15
Nike KD 15
$128
See deal  
$150
See deal  
$150
See deal  
$160
See deal  

CoreScore

94
Superb!
4.8 / 5 from 125 users
90 / 100 from 7 experts

Pros

  • Consistent grip on different surfaces
  • Dust-resistant outsole
  • Plush and protective foam
  • Bouncy midsole
  • Secure heel counter
  • Well-ventilated upper
  • Feels light

Cons

  • Not for wide-footers
  • Outdoor use not recommended

Verdict

The releases from the KD line are hits, and the Nike KD 15 is not an exemption. This basketball shoe energizes every step without forgetting to protect the feet from impact upon aggressive strikes and hard landings. Dust is also not going to be a problem, and the grip is indeed consistent even on unkempt floors. Its collar is not as high, but the curved structure of the heel locks in the foot extra securely. It's apparent that a lot of careful thought was poured into the design process of this Nike offer.
Nike KD 15 full review

Best Nike low top basketball shoes for women

Nike Cosmic Unity 2
Nike Cosmic Unity 2
$88
See deal  
$160
See deal  
$160
See deal  
No stock  

CoreScore

89
Great!
5.0 / 5 from 15 users
86 / 100 from 7 experts

Pros

  • Reliable grip
  • Smooth heel-to-toe transition
  • Excellent impact protection
  • Good court feel
  • Pretty bouncy
  • Comfortable upper
  • Good quality for the price
  • Pretty light
  • OK for outdoors

Cons

  • Not for wide-footers
  • So-so support
  • Still has to be broken in

Verdict

The Nike Cosmic Unity 2 does not disappoint even those who have been so impressed with the original Cosmic Unity from the previous year. Experts state that it is of the same level as top performers like the Nike KD 15. Given all this, it is not a surprise that this basketball shoe has become a solid contender for the best shoe of the year title.
Nike Cosmic Unity 2 full review

Best Nike high top basketball shoes for women

Nike Kobe AD NXT FastFit
Nike Kobe AD NXT FastFit
$430
See deal  
No stock  
No stock  
No stock  

CoreScore

80
Good!
4.3 / 5 from 17 users
84 / 100 from 7 experts

Pros

  • Excellent performance
  • Durable traction
  • Light and minimal
  • Reliable outsole grip
  • Well-cushioned midsole
  • Great support and lockdown
  • Comfortable footbed

Cons

  • Not for the outdoors
  • Traction attracts dust
  • Expensive

Verdict

The Nike Kobe AD NXT FF has aggressive traction, balanced cushioning, and excellent lockdown. However, hoopers can get almost the same performance from cheaper shoes such as the Jordan Why Not Zer0.2. Overall, the Nike Kobe AD NXT FastFit is an excellent performer with a premium price tag. If you want the latest Kobe model and have a couple of hundred bucks to spare, then you should pick up a pair.
Nike Kobe AD NXT FastFit full review

Best Nike outdoor basketball shoes for women

Nike Kybrid S2
Nike Kybrid S2
$250
See deal  
No stock  
No stock  
No stock  

CoreScore

89
Great!
4.5 / 5 from 85 users
85 / 100 from 6 experts

Pros

  • Undeniable court feel
  • Consistent and secure foot containment
  • Next-to-skin comfort
  • Solid craftsmanship and durability
  • True to size
  • OK for outdoor use
  • Cool design

Cons

  • Wiping needed on dusty courts
  • Narrow

Verdict

The Nike Kybrid S2 is a combination of not two but three Kyrie Irving signature shoes: Kyrie 4, Kyrie 5, and Kyrie 6. This coming together of the previous models' results in a shoe that's not only irresistibly attractive but also a beast performance-wise. Among its most standout offers is the really secure lockdown, which comes about because of the Flytrap lacing system and its well-made heel counter. Small and quick players also love how low to the ground and responsive this Kyrie shoe is.
Nike Kybrid S2 full review

Best Nike mid top basketball shoes for women

Nike Lebron Witness 6
Nike Lebron Witness 6
$66
See deal  
$79
See deal  
$90
See deal  
$100
See deal  

CoreScore

90
Superb!
4.7 / 5 from 983 users
81 / 100 from 5 experts

Pros

  • Side-to-side containment
  • True to size
  • Thin but durable materials
  • Comfortably padded tongue
  • Smooth heel-to-toe transition
  • OK for outdoors
  • Easy on-off
  • Stylish

Cons

  • Dust-prone outsole
  • Lacking impact protection
  • Barely there court feel
  • Break-in needed

Verdict

The Nike LeBron Witness 6 can now cease to exist to restore the LeBron Witness line to its former glory. Sure, this shoe is not a lot like the Witness 5, but the updates did not do it any good. Too many serious flaws, this shoe is great only as a collector's item on a lighted glass-enclosed shelf. If you want a safe game shoe, take your money somewhere else. We recommend the Nike Mamba Rage.
Nike Lebron Witness 6 full review

Best value Nike basketball shoes for women

Nike KD Trey 5 X
Nike KD Trey 5 X
$81
See deal  
$88
See deal  
No stock  
No stock  

CoreScore

89
Great!
4.8 / 5 from 116 users
82 / 100 from 2 experts

Pros

  • Solid grip
  • Smooth heel-to-toe transition
  • Bouncy forefoot
  • Cushiony heel
  • Low-to-the-ground feel
  • Comfortably soft upper
  • Accommodates wide feet
  • Extremely light
  • Pretty cheap

Cons

  • Durability concerns
  • Not for outdoors
  • Aesthetic-only strap

Verdict

You surely can play with ease with the Nike KD Trey 5 X. This minimal-feeling basketball shoe is proof that a shoe doesn't have to be expensive to work well. It's all about comfort, so it's not going to be a surprise if more and more players wear this shoe even when they are not playing ball.
Nike KD Trey 5 X full review

Most popular Nike basketball shoes for women

Nike Zoom Freak 4
Nike Zoom Freak 4
$72
See deal  
$100
See deal  
$130
See deal  
$139
See deal  

CoreScore

82
Good!
4.8 / 5 from 37 users
84 / 100 from 3 experts

Pros

  • Noticeable upgrades
  • Amazing grip on indoor courts
  • Dust-resistant outsole
  • Smooth steps
  • Pretty good court feel
  • Dependable impact protection
  • Jump-improving bounce
  • Reliably supportive structure
  • True-to-size fit

Cons

  • Outdoor use not recommended
  • Not for bigger players and wide footers
  • Cheap-feeling materials

Verdict

The Nike Zoom Freak 4 is a worthy follow-up to the Freak 3s because of the noticeable improvement that it brings. It brings out the best in players who do a lot of rebounds and fast runs to the basket because of the high levels of energy that it returns with every step. It's pretty safe to say that this basketball shoe from Nike is worth every penny spent on it.
Nike Zoom Freak 4 full review
Author
Dimitrije Curcic
Dimitrije Curcic

Dimitrije Curcic has been playing basketball for over 22 years. Like Manu Ginobili, he’s a left-hander whose moves led him to a better career-shooting percentage than the Argentine himself. After playing professionally for 10 years, Dimitrije moved to coaching for two seasons before he became a basketball statistician for StatScore, and FanSided contributor for the San Antonio Spurs. Dimitrije loves to tell hoop stories through numbers and graphics and has been featured on Fansided, FiveThirtyEight, Eurohoops, and TalkBasket among the others.

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