Update: April 23, 2024
Although Nike has been sparse on details, The Wall Street Journal has reported the athletic giant’s deal for Caitlin Clark is worth up to $28 million over eight years.
Other potential bidders, according to the report, were Puma, Adidas and Under Armour.
According to the report, Puma removed itself from the Clark sweepstakes when it was told the bidding would start at $3 million per year. Under Armour reportedly offered $16 million over four years and Adidas came in at $6 million over four years.
The name, image and likeness (NIL) deal Clark had signed with Nike, according to the report, expired after this past college season. The report also said Clark’s deal would be the most lucrative sponsorship contract for a women’s basketball player ever.
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Update: April 18, 2024
More details have surfaced about WNBA rookie Caitlin Clark’s reported signature shoe deal and contract with Nike.
Clark’s shoe deal with Nike is worth over $20 million, according to Shams Charania, senior lead NBA insider for The Athletic and Stadium. The news was first reported by The Athletic via X (formerly Twitter).
FN has reached out to Nike for comment.
The report also stated that Adidas and Under Armour were among the finalists to land Clark, and that plans for Clark at Under Armour would have had her representing its Curry Brand imprint, the namesake label of for star Steph Curry.
What We Originally Reported on April 17, 2024
Caitlin Clark was only drafted into the WNBA two days ago and she has reportedly already landed herself a major deal with Nike.
Shams Charania, senior lead NBA insider for The Athletic and Stadium, reported via X (Twitter) on Wednesday night that Clark is nearing a “lucrative, eight-figure endorsement deal with Nike.” That deal, according to Charania, will also include her own signature shoe.
FN has reached out to Nike for comment.
On Monday, Clark was selected No. 1 overall by the Indiana Fever in the 2024 WNBA Draft, which was held at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Clark has long been aligned with Nike, signing a name, image and likeness (NIL) deal with the brand in October 2022. The hooper laced up several different models from Nike during her Iowa Hawkeyes playing days, including looks from the Nike Kobe franchise.
Shortly after walking off the stage as the No. 1 overall pick, Clark told FN she would like to one day have her own signature shoe. “It was a dream growing up. You want your own shoe, you want kids to wear your shoes, your merch, whatever it is,” she said.
Clark also offered details about what she would want in a signature shoe.
“It probably would be a low cut, that’s what I love to play in,” Clark said. “Something super comfortable, something with a lot of good ankle support. There would be some fun colors, I’d have a lot of fun colorways. It would be simple, but very sleek and elegant.”
About the Author
Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.
