PUT ON YOUR HIGH-HEELED SNEAKERS: WOMEN'S SHOE MODELS ABOUND

          There are currently six models of basketball shoes
     "designed especially" around WNBA players, including Comets
     F Sheryl Swoopes, Sparks C Lisa Leslie, Comets G Cynthia
     Cooper, Sting G Dawn Staley and Mystics G Nikki McCray, and
     there "will be at least seven" when Chamique Holdsclaw's
     "makes its debut next year," according to Oscar Dixon of USA
     TODAY.  Joanne Alfarone, Senior Project Dir for NPD Group, a
     market research firm, said "women have posted stronger sales
     growth relative to the men's market" from '94-98, as sales
     of men's basketball shoes were off 11%, while sales of
     women's were up 4%.  NPD data shows that sales of Air
     Swoopes rose 20% in '98, "making it the top-selling women's
     signature basketball shoe."  Nike Dir of Women's Sports
     Marketing Sandi Bittler said that shoe companies "want to
     align their products with athletes who can boost sales --
     and women are doing just that."  Bittler: "The NBA is
     starting to market teams while the WNBA is marketing
     players.  And young girls associate with them."  Fila Dir of
     Advertising & Communications Mark Westerman said if not for
     the WNBA's TV exposure, "We might still be making men's
     smaller shoes and selling them to women" (USA TODAY, 7/6).
          CHAMIQUE'S GOT NEXT: Dixon also reports that Nike "has
     begun what it says will be nearly a 1 1/2-year process to
     produce" Holdsclaw's signature shoe.  Nike Dir of Footwear
     Development for Women's Basketball Marcy Westcott: "The
     production of the shoe will be a joint effort with Chamique,
     and because of her schedule, we're in the early stages of
     production."  Holdsclaw said of her shoe: "Just like they
     wear the Michael Jordans and the Sheryl Swoopes, they'll be
     wearing the Chamique Holdsclaw."  Nike is "mum" on the
     shoe's name and appearance (USA TODAY, 7/6).