An article of footwear comprising: a sole structure ; and an upper that includes an expandable warp knit element , the warp knit element formed of unitary knit construction, the warp knit element defining a warp direction and a weft direction , the warp knit element expanded to an expanded position from a contracted position to at least partially define the upper , the warp knit element including a plurality of strap members that are configured to be substantially non-extensible along the warp direction for providing support to the article of footwear ; the plurality of strap members including a first strap member and a second strap member , each of the first strap member and the second strap member including a leading edge and an opposite trailing edge ; the first strap member and the second strap member being: (i) separated along a portion of a length of the first and second strap members by an opening ; and (ii) at least partially joined at a junction ; the junction being formed of unitary knit construction with the first strap member and the second strap member ; the first strap member including a first leading edge and a first trailing edge , the first trailing edge extending from the junction generally in the warp direction ; the second strap member including a second leading edge and a second trailing edge , the second leading edge extending from the junction generally in the warp direction ; the second leading edge and the first trailing edge cooperating to define the opening that separates the first strap member and the second strap member ; the opening being a slit when the knit element is in the contracted position; the opening having a larger area than the slit when the knit element is in the expanded position. a sole structure ; and an upper that includes an expandable warp knit element , the warp knit element formed of unitary knit construction, the warp knit element defining a warp direction and a weft direction , the warp knit element expanded to an expanded position from a contracted position to at least partially define the upper , the warp knit element including a plurality of strap members that are configured to be substantially non-extensible along the warp direction for providing support to the article of footwear ; the plurality of strap members including a first strap member and a second strap member , each of the first strap member and the second strap member including a leading edge and an opposite trailing edge ; the first strap member and the second strap member being: (i) separated along a portion of a length of the first and second strap members by an opening ; and (ii) at least partially joined at a junction ; the junction being formed of unitary knit construction with the first strap member and the second strap member ; the first strap member including a first leading edge and a first trailing edge , the first trailing edge extending from the junction generally in the warp direction ; the second strap member including a second leading edge and a second trailing edge , the second leading edge extending from the junction generally in the warp direction ; the second leading edge and the first trailing edge cooperating to define the opening that separates the first strap member and the second strap member ; the opening being a slit when the knit element is in the contracted position; the opening having a larger area than the slit when the knit element is in the expanded position. <EOS>