Well, folks, it looks like Nike may have fumbled the bag—no, scratch that—Nike may have kicked it down the court when it comes to Caitlin Clark’s highly anticipated signature shoe. In what can only be described as a major buzzkill, the basketball phenom, who signed a jaw-dropping $28 million endorsement deal with the sneaker giant in April, is still waiting for her debut kicks to grace the shelves. That’s right—nearly five months after securing the bag, we’ve got zip, nada, nothing to show for it. Just a lot of talk, and maybe some tumbleweeds rolling by.
You’d think with the No. 1 overall WNBA draft pick’s meteoric rise, Nike would have rolled out the red carpet—or, at the very least, a pair of red sneakers—but alas, Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever’s rookie darling, is still lacing up in Kobe Bryant’s signature shoes. Can you blame her, though? At least Kobe’s kicks exist in the real world.
NBA agent Nate Jones, who’s clearly not a fan of the “coming soon” hype cycle, threw some shade on the situation during the “House of Strauss” podcast. “How do you have the biggest rookie in basketball, the one everyone’s talking about, and no product for her?” he said, raising the ultimate eyebrow. “She’s basically gathering dust on the backburner.” Ouch. Cue the slow clap.
Fans Take No Prisoners: “Nike, What Are You Doing?!”
When news hit that Caitlin Clark might not have a signature sneaker in time for next season—yes, you read that right, next season—the internet did what it does best: roast people. Fans went ballistic on social media, calling out the shoe giant for seemingly sleeping on one of the most exciting players to hit the hardwood since, well, Caitlin Clark.
“If this is true, Caitlin should’ve signed with literally anyone else. Even Skechers could’ve whipped something up by now!” one fan tweeted, clearly not here for Nike’s procrastination. Another chimed in, “Imagine the sales! It’s almost Christmas, Nike! And playoffs are coming—what are y’all waiting for?!”
Another fan, clearly already picturing those sweet, sweet kicks, shouted into the Twitter void: “@Nike, where’s Caitlin Clark’s shoe?! She sells out everything she touches. You’re sitting on a golden goose!”
And let’s not forget the fan who boldly proclaimed: “Caitlin’s shoes would sell like Jordans. You’ve got the face of the WNBA, and you’re letting her walk around in Kobe hand-me-downs?”
The shade is real, folks.
The A’ja Wilson Dilemma: Nike’s Star Juggling Act
Apparently, Nike’s indecision may not just be plain old forgetfulness. According to Nate Jones, part of the holdup is the company’s focus on promoting A’ja Wilson, the reigning WNBA MVP and three-time winner in just five seasons. Word on the street is that Nike doesn’t want to upset the balance of sneaker royalty.
Jones didn’t hold back when discussing the situation: “A’ja’s shoe is coming out. But, like, who says Caitlin can’t go before A’ja? It’s business. You don’t hold back a superstar because someone else is popular too. Make them both shoes!”
Kobe Kicks to the Rescue (For Now)
While Caitlin Clark waits for Nike to sort itself out, she’s been sticking with her trusted Kobe Bryant shoes—the same ones she rocked during her legendary college career at Iowa. In fact, during a Fever practice on July 30, she debuted her very own player-exclusive Kobe colorway. The black-and-yellow design pays homage to both her Iowa days and her new Indiana Fever threads. So, if Nike isn’t going to give her a signature shoe, at least Kobe’s ghost has her back.
But let’s be real, as awesome as those kicks are, the world deserves a Caitlin Clark sneaker. Whether it’s Nike, Adidas, or, heck, Crocs at this point, someone better get on it. Because if Caitlin can sell out arenas, you better believe her shoes would sell out too.