Footwear heel counter for easier foot entry or removal

A shoe comprising:

• an upper and sole structure, the upper defining a foot receiving shoe opening;
• a heel counter comprising a heel cup attached to the upper and extending from the sole structure to at least a portion of the rear heel collar of upper, the heel cup with a rearmost portion having an overall vertical S wave cross-sectional shape,
• wherein the heel cup is uniformly molded with an upper portion, midportion, and lower portion,
• the upper portion having a smaller mediolateral length than the midportion;
• a heel region of the upper having a rearward facing upper concavity and a forward facing lower concavity,
• the upper concavity having a first depth,
• the lower concavity having a second depth,
• the second depth being greater than the first depth;
• wherein an upper amplitude of the upper concavity is approximately 3 millimeters, and a lower amplitude of the lower concavity is approximately 9 millimeters;
• an interior compressible foam layer attached to the heel cup, wherein the foam layer protrudes into a shoe opening, the foam layer configured to compress under a load during the donning or removal of the shoe, and
• wherein the interior compressible foam layer is configured, after the foot is inserted into the shoe, to expand fully or partially to its uncompressed state.