If you’ve been following the latest drama in women’s sports, brace yourself: it’s not just about slam dunks or buzzer-beaters. The real rivalry is shaping up in the sneaker world as Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark—a pair of NCAA legends turned WNBA superstars—find themselves at the center of an unlikely battle between Reebok and Nike. Reese’s recent contract extension with Reebok came with a juicy announcement: her own signature shoe, and—drumroll please—an actual timeline for its release.
For Caitlin Clark fans, who have been patiently (or not-so-patiently) waiting for Nike to follow through on their £21.5 million ($28 million) promise of a Clark signature shoe, this news has been like salt in the wound. Some have even taken to social media with thinly veiled sarcasm, questioning why Nike seems to be sitting on their hands while Reebok fast-tracks Reese’s shoe to shelves.
Angel Reese, however, couldn’t be more thrilled. “I’m extremely excited to let you guys know that we are officially coming out with a Reebok by Angel signature shoe,” she declared, likely throwing in a wink wink in Nike’s direction. “A signature shoe has always been a dream of mine, and I want all the young girls out there to remember that anything is possible.”
Meanwhile, over on X (formerly Twitter), the Clark faithful are using some choice words to poke fun at Nike’s radio silence on their MVP’s signature shoe, with comments like:
- @RiderFanRob: “How is Angel Reese getting a shoe before Caitlin Clark? I get it Reebok vs Nike, but still they need to fix this asap.”
- @steve_sherwood chimed in with a little more edge: “Nike’s utter failure to capitalize on Caitlin Clark’s massive popularity this year is baffling.”
But perhaps @stillnothawkize stole the show with this prediction: “The year is 2032. Caitlin Clark has captured her sixth consecutive WNBA MVP and is working on a 5-peat with the Fever. Nike says a shoe prototype will drop in weeks.” Ouch.
For Nike, the clock is ticking, and with Reebok ready to roll out Reese’s custom sneaker in time for the 2026 WNBA season, fans have made it clear they want their MVP to have her moment in style—preferably sooner rather than later. In a game where timing is everything, Nike may just need to lace up and pick up the pace.