An article of footwear, comprising: a longitudinal direction extending along a major axis of the article of footwear and a lateral direction extending along a minor axis of the article of footwear; an upper and a sole structure; a connecting member comprising a substantially planar upper layer and a substantially planar lower layer, the substantially planar upper layer being directly attached to the substantially planar lower layer at a central attachment portion that extends longitudinally along the connecting member; the upper layer being attached to the upper and the lower layer being attached to the sole structure; the connecting member including a first decoupled portion extending laterally from the central attachment portion to a lateral side of the connecting member, the first decoupled portion including a first free portion of the upper layer and a first free portion of the lower layer, the first free portion of the upper layer being configured to move substantially independently of the first free portion of the lower layer; the connecting member also including a second decoupled portion extending laterally from the central attachment portion to a medial side of the connecting member, the second decoupled portion including a second free portion of the upper layer and a second free portion of the lower layer, the second free portion of the upper layer being configured to move substantially independently of the second free portion of the lower layer; and wherein the decoupled portions (230, 232) each have a lateral width (W2, W3) that is substantially greater than a lateral width of the narrower central attachment portion. a longitudinal direction extending along a major axis of the article of footwear and a lateral direction extending along a minor axis of the article of footwear; an upper and a sole structure; a connecting member comprising a substantially planar upper layer and a substantially planar lower layer, the substantially planar upper layer being directly attached to the substantially planar lower layer at a central attachment portion that extends longitudinally along the connecting member; the upper layer being attached to the upper and the lower layer being attached to the sole structure; the connecting member including a first decoupled portion extending laterally from the central attachment portion to a lateral side of the connecting member, the first decoupled portion including a first free portion of the upper layer and a first free portion of the lower layer, the first free portion of the upper layer being configured to move substantially independently of the first free portion of the lower layer; the connecting member also including a second decoupled portion extending laterally from the central attachment portion to a medial side of the connecting member, the second decoupled portion including a second free portion of the upper layer and a second free portion of the lower layer, the second free portion of the upper layer being configured to move substantially independently of the second free portion of the lower layer; and wherein the decoupled portions (230, 232) each have a lateral width (W2, W3) that is substantially greater than a lateral width of the narrower central attachment portion.