Caitlin Clark made waves earlier this year when she signed a groundbreaking eight-year, $28 million endorsement deal with Nike, marking the largest contract in women’s basketball history. Since then, the sportswear giant has heavily promoted the WNBA Rookie of the Year, but one notable absence has caught the attention of fans—Clark still doesn’t have her own signature shoe.
Despite her immense popularity and Nike’s promotional efforts, the highly anticipated Caitlin Clark signature shoe has yet to materialize. According to veteran sports journalist Ethan Strauss, there’s a key reason for the delay, and it’s not just about timing.
In an article posted to his personal site, Strauss revealed that industry insiders have suggested Nike is holding off on giving Clark her own shoe out of deference to another Nike athlete, WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson.
“Based on conversations with people in the know, it indeed has something to do with WNBA MVP and Nike athlete A’ja Wilson,” Strauss wrote. “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.”
Strauss explained that, according to sources, Nike insiders feel Wilson should be the first WNBA star to receive her own signature shoe before Clark. “The explanation I hear from industry people for why Clark got sandbagged is, ‘A’ja Wilson has to come first.’ Why? Well, just because, I guess,” Strauss added.
The decision to prioritize Wilson, a two-time WNBA champion and now three-time league MVP, over Clark has sparked some debate. While Clark’s star power and influence in women’s basketball is undeniable, many in the basketball community believe Wilson’s achievements, both on and off the court, make her equally deserving of that recognition. When Clark’s Nike deal was announced, some critics argued that Wilson, as one of the most accomplished players in the WNBA, should have received her own shoe first.
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Nike appears to be addressing that concern. In May, the company officially announced that A’ja Wilson’s first signature sneaker, the “A’One,” will be released in 2025. The shoe will mark a significant milestone in Wilson’s career, as she becomes one of the few WNBA athletes to have a signature shoe.
Given Wilson’s shoe release timeline, it seems likely that Clark’s own sneaker will follow not long after. With Wilson’s “A’One” set to drop in 2025, Clark’s shoe could debut around the same time, or perhaps in 2026. For now, fans of both athletes are eagerly awaiting these signature releases, which are expected to generate major buzz in both the basketball world and the sneaker industry.
Clark’s deal with Nike still stands as a historic moment for women’s sports, as it reflects not only her influence but the growing recognition of female athletes in the marketplace. While her signature shoe may be delayed, Clark’s popularity continues to soar, and her future in both basketball and as a Nike ambassador looks bright.
As Clark and Wilson lead the charge for the next generation of women’s basketball, it’s clear that Nike is playing a careful game of balancing two superstar talents.
For now, fans of both players can look forward to seeing how these sneaker releases will shape the future of women’s basketball and their respective legacies.
