Nike's Newest Innovation: Hypervenom Phantom II

Although the first generation Hypervenom Phantom is only a few years old, Nike's design team didn't shy away from making the boot even better with an innovative re-design. The Nike Hypervenom Phantom II is the first boot of the Hypervenom silo to offer a Dynamic Fit Collar that flows seamlessly into a new enhanced mesh upper. Max Blau, VP of Nike Football Footwear, explained the design team's desire to push the boundaries with their newest boot: “Players loved the original Hypervenom, but that doesn’t mean we can’t do even better. We’re not afraid to make as many changes as the boot needs to be the best.  The kind of players who wear Hypervenom would expect nothing less.”

The design team took a unique approach when they started the research phase of the design process for the new Hypervenom Phantom II. In order to find exactly where an athlete's foot flexed during soccer-specific movements, members of the design team wore white socks and spray painted their feet to identify prominent flex grooves during play. These grooves now make up the unique, and seemingly random, zig-zagging texture of the boot's upper.

Another upgrade in innovation was the use of Flywire along the sides of the boot. Flywire, a technology already used in Nike running shoes, comes up around the eyelets of the boot's laces and creates a lock-down fit through the middle of the foot. The enhanced mesh upper is also featured in varying density throughout the boot for maximum comfort in the most critical areas. The Dynamic Fit Collar was also added for comfort, featuring an asymmetrical back seam that reduces distraction and tension on the Achilles tendon. The design was finished off with classic Hypervenom details: the NikeSkin coating combined with ACC (All Conditions Control) for touch, an asymmetrical lacing pattern for a larger strike zone, and a conical split-toe stud configuration for added stability and traction.

The first release of the Hypervenom Phantom II features the Wolf Grey & Total Orange colorway from the Silver Storm Pack. The first ever Women's-specific colorway for the Hypervenom Phantom II was released as a part of the Women's World Cup Cleat Pack in Blue Lagoon & Volt.

Neymar JR and Alex Morgan are Nike's main athletes wearing this boot, but they are also joined by the likes of other world class players such as Wayne Rooney, Edinson Cavani, Robert Lewandowski, Meghan Klingenberg, and Christen Press.

The Soccer Shop will carry the Hypervenom Phinnish (a low-cut version of the boot) in both adult and youth sizes.

The Final Bow: Nike Hypervenom Phantom Transform

The first generation of the Nike Hypervenom Phantom will soon be replaced by a new generation featuring the dynamic fit collar. Never one to let anything go quietly, Nike is set to release a highly unique and innovative final boot for the first generation of the Hypervenom silo. At first glance, the Hypervenom Phantom Transform appears to be a black-out boot with a few subtle orange highlights. However, once a player starts to play in the boot, the upper transforms into a fiery heat-activated orange. The boot returns to its original all-black colorway after a player removes the boot from their foot.

The Nike Hypervenom Phantom Transform is extremely limited, with only 560 pairs available worldwide. The limited-edition boot will be available May 14th on the Nike Soccer App, nike.com and through select retailers.

Photo courtesy of Nike

USWNT and their Mothers Celebrate a 3-0 Win Over Ireland

The U.S. Women’s National team triumphed over the Republic of Ireland with a 3-0 win on Mother's Day. To make the victory even sweeter, the team was surprised by a visit from their mothers during the team dinner the night before, and had the privilege of walking out to the field together. This was the first game of the three-game Send-off Series heading to the 2015 FIFA World Cup.

Fox Sports Sends Mothers Out for a Mother's Day Surprise
In celebration of Mother’s Day, Fox Sports flew all of the players' mothers out for a surprise dinner. At the game each member of the team, including head coach Jill Ellis, entered the field hand-in-hand with their mothers, and all stood together for the National Anthem. The mothers then took to the stands among the 18,000 fans at Avaya Stadium in San Jose to watch the USWNT beat Ireland. For some of these players who are constantly traveling for their club teams, this was the first time in years that they were able to spend Mother's Day with their moms.

Wambach Changes the Forwards Recent Reputation
The USWNT forwards have struggled to find the back of the net in recent games. To turn the tide, Abby Wambach scored two of the three goals, one right after another,  a huge improvement for the front line. Christen Press assisted the first, and Carli Lloyd assisted the second with a ball to the far post that Wambach headed into the right corner. Defender Julie Johnston scored the third goal of the game, and the third goal of her international career.

Many Reasons to Celebrate for Rapinoe
As well as celebrating Mother’s Day, Megan Rapinoe celebrated her 100th cap with the national team. She started the game as the team captain, and was recognized beforehand for her accomplishment. Normally players receive a Rolex watch in celebration of their achievements, however, Rapinoe requested that the money be given to charity instead.

Coming Soon: The USWNT will play against Mexico at the StubHub Center in Carson, California for the second game of the Send-off Series. Set a reminder to catch the game on May 17 at 6 p.m. on Fox Sports 1 or Univision Deportes. Hopefully, they follow in the steps of the USMNT who recently beat Mexico. 

Photos courtesy of U.S. Soccer. 

Nike+ Training Club is Continued by Defender Ali Krieger

U.S. Women’s National Team defender, Ali Krieger, continues the Nike+ Training Club 90-Day "Better For It" Challenge after Christen Press kicked off the program in April. For this second installment, Nike & Krieger collaborated on her "Summer Strong" workout which incorporates strengthening and balance drills crucial for a defender at her level.

Broken Leg Leads to Much More
Almost 10 years ago, when Krieger was a 20-year old defender at Penn State, her soccer career suffered a major setback when she broke her leg late in the season. During her recovery time she noticed she was having trouble breathing, and a hospital visit later revealed she had blood clots in her lungs which led to a pulmonary embolism and a series of minor heart attacks. Krieger survived the life-threatening ordeal and went on to have an incredible senior year at Penn State. This struggle motivated Krieger as she looked towards her future as a soccer player:

“It was a second chance... It put my career in perspective. I then knew exactly what I wanted to do. It really pushed me to want to get better, get back out on the field and reach for my goals and dreams.”

Not Back in it For Long
Krieger's motivation and push to improve brought her far, and she became a real force in the back line for the U.S. Women's National Team. However, in the lead up to the 2012 Olympics, Krieger suffered another devastating setback when she tore her ACL and MCL in her right knee. Although she was unable to compete for a medal, she continued to cheer on the team throughout the recovery process. Krieger loved the game too much to allow this injury to hold her back once again. She credits her dad with having  a big impact on her persistent and optimistic attitude:

“What my dad always taught me is to control what I’m able to control, and that’s two things: my work ethic and my attitude. And I’ve tried to carry that throughout my whole career.”

Prepare for Summer with Krieger's Workout 
The workout inspired by Krieger isn't just for elite athletes.  It includes a wide variety of exercises for people at all levels of athletic capability. The workouts are focused around what skills are crucial for a defender to perform at the highest level on the field: positioning, footwork, and timing. A small sampling of the workout includes: touchdowns, single leg dead lifts, lunges, and push ups. Download Krieger's Summer Strong Workout now on the Nike+ Training Club app and get ready to train through those long and hot summer days. 

Images & Video Courtesy of Nike and US Soccer.