Fresh. Bubbly. Deeply unserious.
These are all apt descriptors for both Mountain Dew Baja Blast, which tastes like if the color “teal” had a flavor to it, and the Dallas Wings’ resident jokester-superstar Paige Bueckers.
It makes sense, then, that Bueckers’ next Nike colorway release is inspired by what is reportedly one of her other favorite drinks, the Dew flavor that was originally released only at participating Taco Bell locations in 2004 before it exploded into the Millennial mind’s eye, then onto
store shelves everywhere.
If you’ll remember, Bueckers and Nike released her Zoom G.T. Cut 4 “Shirley Buckets” colorway a few months ago, with the WNBA season still in session. Now she’s following that up with another Cut 4 colorway, which has been dubbed the “Baja Blast.”
It’s true, Bueckers was just a toddler when Baja Blast first hit a Taco Bell near you, but her generation has latched onto the sweet, fizzy gimmick and made it into one of those ironic cultural signifiers we perpetuate in the U.S. in lieu of genuine culture.
The shoes are dope, though — I can’t lie. They channel the unmistakable turquoise Baja Blast “hue through Emerald Rise and Turbo Green across the rear half, while a purple toe box offers a possible nod to Taco Bell’s newer Baja Midnight flavor,” SneakerNews wrote in its release announcement. I’ve never heard such poetic language used to describe a sneaker/soda cross-promo product release.
The Baja Blast colorways are not yet available for sale on Nike’s website, nor has an official release date been announced, but several outlets have reported a release sometime during the holidays. They will reportedly carry a $200 price tag when released. The “Shirley Buckets” colorways are currently on sale, though, after the announcement, and are listed for $115.
Bueckers was named to the All-WBNA Second Team for a second consecutive season after averaging 20.9 points, 5.9 assists, and 4 rebounds per game in 2026. She was one of just two players in the league to average more than 20 points and more than five assists per game, and was the only player in the W to shoot at least 50% from the field, 40% from 3-point range and 87% from the free-throw line. Her seven games of at least 25 points, five rebounds and five assists this year were also a league-high mark.
She led the Wings back to the playoffs for the first time since 2023, where she scored 21 points on 9-of-10 shooting in her playoff debut. The Wings won one of three against the eventual WNBA champion Golden State Valkyries, a 108-100 overtime thriller in Game 2.
