As the biggest rookie sensation in WNBA history, it would be reasonable to assume that Nike would be rushing to get Caitlin Clark her own signature shoe deal. However, according to insider Ethan Strauss, Nike may be intentionally holding off on a deal with Clark so they can take care of someone else first.
“The refusal to make money off Clark is not incidental to continued issues within that massive company. Based on conversations with people in the know, it indeed has something to do with WNBA MVP and Nike athlete A’ja Wilson. But beyond Wilson, it’s about a culture at the company that’s more concerned with quelling noise rather than making it, as Nike once used to.”
Nike prefers a very particular kind of athlete — typically one who can stay out of trouble, who can maintain their status as a star in their sport, and who can avoid stepping on the toes of their predecessors. Caitlin Clark is not there yet, and that is why Nike is keeping its stock in A’ja Wilson, the reigning WNBA MVP.
Wilson was just voted as the unanimous MVP for the second time and her status as the best player in the W right now is inarguable. Through 38 games for the Aces, she averaged 26.9 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game on 51.8% shooting. Her updated resume now includes 3 MVPs, 2 WNBA championships, and 2 Defensive Player of the Year awards. She’s been pretty chill and humble through it all, taking it all in stride, keeping her head down, and acting like a consummate professional.
A’ja is already a Nike athlete but it’s clear that she needs some more attention from the company. She’s yet to have her own signature shoe and Wilson has rarely been featured on ads or any public event.
Comparatively, Caitlin Clark is making all kinds of noise right now and many don’t think it’s entirely justified. Clark was on fire in her Rookie of the Year campaign with averages of 19.2 points, 8.4 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game on 41.7% shooting and her performance alone attracted countless new eyes to the WNBA.
But amid her impressive first-year performance, some fans are ready to crown Caitlin as the WNBA’s version of Wilt Chamberlain. In the eyes of many, her record-breaking rookie year was enough to make her the new face of women’s basketball and the league must take action now if they want to maximize her impact.
Of course, with her rise has come plenty of opposition. Between Angel Reese and some of the other young players, it seems Clark has become a top target for hard fouls and questionable defensive plays. And as fans rave about her skills and shooting ability teams and former basketball legends are going out of their way to try and pump the brakes on the hype surrounding her game.
To many people, the WNBA (and many of its players) have it out for Caitlin and want to see her fail. But in the eyes of the league, the athletes, and apparently Nike themselves, she hasn’t yet earned the respect and recognition so many of her fans are dying for her to receive.
For now, all Caitlin can do is wait. If she can return next season and outperform her rookie campaign, we may start to see the tides shift on how Clark is treated in her own community. If not, the haters will come out in droves to talk down on her game and make it so that she has an uphill battle to win back the fans.
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