US track champion Abby Steiner is taking her fight into court, suing Puma and the Mercedes Formula 1 team after alleging the companies' shoe design contributed to injuries that derailed her competitive career.

Filed April 24th in Massachusetts Superior Court, the suit claims the shoes and spikes were “defective” and “unsafe," saying the design increased risk factors for bone stress injuries, foot injuries, and additional strain.

Because Mercedes was involved in the design and sale of Puma footwear referenced in the complaint, it is also named in the lawsuit.

Steiner, an NCAA champion at Kentucky and two-time world champion relay gold medalist, emerged as a rising names in US track during her breakout 2022 season. She signed with Puma that July in a deal widely reported to be worth some $2 million.

While Steiner helped the US win gold in the 4x100 and 4x400 relays at the 2022 World Championships, the lawsuit says the trouble began after she started wearing Puma footwear in September of that year.

According to the complaint, those injuries led to multiple surgeries and years of rehabilitation between 2023 and 2025, subsequently ending her career and keeping her from competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Saying she suffered “severe and permanent injuries," Steiner is seeking financial damages tied to lost sponsorships, medical expenses, and a decreased quality of life.

Court records currently show no defendants have filed a response or attorney appearance with the court. A response is due by August 24th.

LSU women's basketball star Flau'jae Johnson is gearing up again, with Sole Retriever revealing on Tuesday that the senior guard plans to drop a new Puma player exclusive sneaker next month.

The 22-year-old will take over the Puma All-Pro Nitro 2, pairing a tan and brown camouflage pattern with bright pink and green accents.

Adorned with a custom logo representing Johnson's No. 4 jersey — a four-finger hand image in green — the Tigers standout will see her exclusive logo on both the tongue and bottom sole of the All-Pro Nitro 2.

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A major player in Puma's NIL program since 2022, Johnson debuted her first player exclusive colorway in 2024, but this new design will be the NIL star's first PE available on the consumer market.

"They were very intrigued not only [about] basketball, but my music side, too," Johnson told Andscape after signing with the sportswear giant. "That was really important to me, because some people try to box you in. Puma was like, 'Ain't no box. Ain't no cage.'"

How to purchase the Puma All-Pro Nitro 2 Flau'jae Johnson PE sneaker

Retailing at $140, Johnson's Puma All-Pro Nitro 2 PE sneakers will hit both online and brick-and-mortar shelves on February 6th.

WNBA star Breanna Stewart has signed a long-term deal with Puma that includes the development and release of her own signature shoe. Stewart has ended her partnership with Nike after five years in favor of the exclusive contract with Puma.

The Seattle Storm forward will be the first WNBA player to have her own signature shoe in a decade. The last original women’s basketball product was Candace Parker’s TS Ace Commander with adidas in 2010. There have been calls for more women’s signature shoes since Nike introduced Sheryl Swoopes’ Nike Air Swoopes in 1996.

The public, however, will have to wait to get their hands on Stewart’s designs. The development process is said to take a little over a year.

In the meantime, Stewart will sport Puma custom sneakers for the WNBA’s 25th season, which begins this weekend.

Stewart and the Storm will host the Aces in their home opener on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET.