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Always Be Innovating: Testing the Next Generation of IDA’s Women’s Cleats with NWSL Players

IDA’s building out an advanced quality, first-of-its-kind women’s soccer cleat for FG and SG surfaces at the pro level. We want the best to test it and mold an incredible limited edition design for it. To do that, we’ve put together an inaugural roster of professional players to join our fit-testing team.

MEET THE ROSTER

Makenna Morris, NWSL Washington Spirit Summer Yates, NWSL Orlando Pride Courtney Brown, NWSL Washington Spirit Kerry Abello, NWSL Orlando Pride Heather Stainbrook, NWSL Washington Spirit Lena Silano, NWSL Washington Spirit Kenna Caldwell, NWSL Orlando Pride Waniya Hudson, NWSL Washington Spirit (on loan with USL Dallas Trinity FC) Claire Winter, NWSL Orlando Pride (on loan with USL Lexington SC) Jenna Bike, NWSL Chicago Stars

Makenna Morris, NWSL Washington Spirit

Summer Yates, NWSL Orlando Pride

Courtney Brown, NWSL Washington Spirit

Kerry Abello, NWSL Orlando Pride

Heather Stainbrook, NWSL Washington Spirit

Lena Silano, NWSL Washington Spirit

Kenna Caldwell, NWSL Orlando Pride

Waniya Hudson, NWSL Washington Spirit (on loan with USL Dallas Trinity FC)

Claire Winter, NWSL Orlando Pride (on loan with USL Lexington SC)

Jenna Bike, NWSL Chicago Stars


“82% of female players experience pain wearing football boots,” the European Clubs Association 2023 report tells us. Women deserve gear that supports their biomechanical needs, and they deserve to be part of the process in shaping and designing them. Plus, they deserve to earn more than just gear for their participation in research and development.

This testing initiative gives players the opportunity to:

  • Lead with a female-founded and female-focused brand.
  • Work with a brand that always has and always will exclusively center female athletes and their needs.
  • Wear the only boots truly utilizing a women’s specific last and soleplate.
  • Experience the comfort & support of a cleat made specifically for women.

  • Earn compensation for their time and feedback.
  • Participate in research & design to help change the future of footwear for generations of women and girls to come!


The players are participating in a three phase process – onboarding and meeting the design and development team, getting foot scans and measurements and sharing their personal experiences with footwear, and testing and wearing the new product. The output…a beautiful boot tested by the pros, for the pros, and a limited edition product to celebrate this cohort of athletes!  


Here are some snippets from the players: 

1. What do you wish was improved from your current cleats?

“Comfort! The sides of my feet get so sore (I have wider feet), yet I have to tie my laces extra tight so my boots don't slip off. It takes me weeks to break in boots to the point where they start to feel comfortable.” - Kerry Abello

“I want my cleats to be wider where my toes start.” - Claire Winter

“Arch support, and comfort on the bottom of my cleats.” - Kenna Caldwell

 Must-haves / Non-negotiables in Cleats:

“Comfort and what fits my feet. Color is nice too!” - Heather Stainbrook
“I definitely like to feel secure and stable in my boots. And overall traction so I’m able to get up and down the field quickly.” - Summer Yates

“Laceless! As a goalkeeper it makes it so much more convenient for me.” - Kenna Caldwell


2. Have you considered a women’s specific boot before?

“I didn’t know the major differences between women’s and men’s feet, but it makes a lot of sense. Comparing them to the past cleats I've had, the fit is different and feels a lot better to my feet.” - Heather Stainbrook

“I didn’t know there was a women’s specific cleat on the market. I’m very happy to find out that there is!” - Courtney Brown

“I never considered women’s boots because all of the best boots typically have been men’s boots, so I’ve always worn men’s.” - Kerry Abello

“No, I did not know women’s feet were different. I never really had an issue with cleats but never felt like they were made for me. So it’s awesome to have women’s cleats that are specifically made for us.” - Summer Yates

3. What has your cleat buying experience been like in the past?

“My cleat buying experience in the past really has just been about finding a boot that fits my feet. I’ve never had the luxury of buying a boot that I like because of its style. I mostly went for, ‘is it going to fit my feet, is it going to hurt my feet, and is it a functional cleat.’” - Courtney Brown

“I’ve had some struggles buying cleats because of my high arches. I’ve learned to just deal with it. And, I’m not a big blister girlie but I will definitely sometimes catch my cleats rubbing which will be annoying.” - Makenna Morris 

“I’ve mostly struggled with breaking in my cleats. Especially this year. I’ve had some really bad blisters.” - Heather Stainbrook

4. What story do you want to tell as an athlete?

“Anything is possible as long as you're willing to work for it and believe in yourself!” - Waniya Hudson

“That no matter where you come from or who you are, no dream is too big. I want to be remembered as an athlete who had a dream at a young age and beat the odds and wants to inspire the next generation.” - Summer Yates

5. What excites you about working with IDA?

“I’m most excited to work with IDA because I’ll know more information about my feet and cleats, and I’ll get to see where this brand goes in the future.” - Lena Silano

“What excites me the most about working with IDA is the idea of having a cleat that fits my feet, and the fact that it’s focused on female athletes, I think is pretty inspiring and really cool.” - Kenna Caldwell


Over the last six years, IDA has leveraged relationships with and feedback from thousands of players from the grassroots to the pros to shape the IDA women’s specific custom-last and outsole. Today we have professional athletes across five major leagues, including international matches, wearing IDA. 

This testing initiative is a special opportunity to welcome more professionals into the IDA ecosystem. Plus, if you’re a pro player we haven’t met yet, you’ll likely be hearing from us in 2025 to get YOUR pair of IDAs.

November 15, 2024
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