Exhibit 5.1

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP

1050 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.

Washington, DC 20036-5306

Tel 202.955.8500

www.gibsondunn.com

Stephen Glover

Direct: +1 202.955.8593

Fax: +1 202.530.9598

SIGlover@gibsondunn.com

May 11, 2023

Wolverine World Wide, Inc.

9341 Courtland Drive N.E.,

Rockford, Michigan 49351

Re:    Wolverine World Wide, Inc. Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have examined the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) of Wolverine World Wide, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), in connection with the offering by the Company of up to 6,100,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $1.00 per share (the “Shares”). The Shares are to be issued under the Wolverine World Wide, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan of 2016, as amended and restated (the “Plan”).

In arriving at the opinion expressed below, we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction as being true and complete copies, of the originals, of such documents, corporate records, certificates of officers of the Company and of public officials and such other instruments as we have deemed necessary or advisable to enable us to render the opinion set forth below. In our examination, we have assumed without independent investigation the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity and competency of all natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies. We have also assumed that there are no agreements or understandings between or among the Company and any participants in the Plan that would expand, modify or otherwise affect the terms of the Plan or the respective rights or obligations of the participants thereunder. Finally, we have assumed the accuracy of all other information provided to us by the Company during the course of our investigations, on which we have relied in issuing the opinion expressed below.

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications, assumptions, exceptions and limitations set forth herein and in reliance on the statements of fact contained in the

Wolverine World Wide, Inc.

May 11, 2023

Page 2

documents that we have examined, we are of the opinion that the Shares, when issued and sold in accordance with the terms set forth in the Plan and against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of the form of agreement documenting the awards under which the Shares may be issued, and when the Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities Act, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

We render no opinion herein as to matters involving the laws of any jurisdiction other than the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”). We are not admitted to practice in the State of Delaware; however, we are generally familiar with the DGCL as currently in effect and have made such inquiries as we consider necessary to render the opinions above. This opinion is limited to the effect of the current state of the DGCL and the facts as they currently exist. We assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion in the event of future changes in such law or the interpretations thereof or such facts.

We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations of the Commission.

Very truly yours,

/S/ GIBSON DUNN & CRUTCHER LLP

SIG/ba