Despite the growing number of women involved in professional sports, women are still being treated like “second-class athletes,” according to fashion news and inspiration source Fashionista. Since 1997, it has been difficult to find WNBA games on television, regardless of high interest to view the games.

This second-class status resulted in a limited amount of apparel options for women, but now things have changed.

Nike, the biggest American apparel company, debuted its Elite Basketball performance collection. This is the first time Nike has developed a women’s basketball apparel collection designed by women.

“[Nike] did a lot of focus groups with both high school and professional basketball players from across the country to make sure we were creating the right styles and incorporating the wants and needs for the female athlete,” Chris Burke, Nike Basketball Global Basketball apparel director, said in a press release.

Nike conducted focus groups with the University of Connecticut women’s basketball team and WNBA players Elena Delle Donne, Skylar Diggins, Chiney Ogwumike and Sue Bird.

“This is giving us what we want and need,” Diggins said in a press release. “I have been waiting for this forever.”

Similarly, Viera Nguyen, junior in public relations, believed that it’s well over due for Nike to develop a collection catering women athletes.

“It’s cool that they finally are supporting women’s basketball,” Nguyen said. “Nike claims to target all athletes, so women athletes need to be noticed also. I’m glad they’re finally doing what should have been done a long time ago.”

While Nike had offered some tennis shoes, shorts and sports bras for women athletes, no apparel line actually existed, which comes as a surprise to many.

Four pieces make up the collection. Although the first collection is small, each piece offers something useful and versatile for women basketball players, whether for practice or for a big game.

The pieces include a loose-fitting mesh hoodie that allows for mobility, tapered pants that are both comfortable and sweat-preventing, a stretchy tank top that also allows for swift movement and lightweight shorts. The fabrics and designs of each piece provide comfort and mobility for athletes.

“I find it hard to believe that they were designed with a “function over form” mentality,” said Joey Greco, sophomore in mechanical engineering. “Workout clothes, in a unisex perspective, should be non-binding and allow for open movement. It looks more like a fashion statement than anything else.”

Students can browse the line on Nike’s website. Prices range from $35 to $80.

Nike made a slam dunk for women’s basketball apparel, offering something both fashionable and useful, but the line is still arguably not enough for some students.