Caitlin Clark Nike Deal: WNBA MVP Responds to Signature Shoe Controversy

Caitlin Clark has been the talk of the sports world lately, thanks in large part to her record-breaking final year with the Iowa Hawkeyes. After securing the most points in NCAA Basketball history, Clark's legend has only grown.

Clark was selected No.1 overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever and has already brought a ton of exposure to the sport. While the low contracts for WNBA players are always a hot topic of discussion, everyone figured Clark would get much more money via endorsement deals.

It took a mere few days for that to happen, as The Athletic reported that Clark and Nike were closing in on a massive endorsement deal that would see her make at least $20 million, including bonuses, and her own signature shoe. The news of Clark earning an incoming shoe has sent the internet ablaze and prompted a response from the 2022 and 2020 WNBA MVP, and arguably the best player in the league.

Even fellow WNBA player Sydney Colson commented, "I meeeaaan, I might get a shoe before @_ajawilson22 at this rate."

Colson has been in the WNBA since 2011 and has been playing with the Las Vegas Aces since the 2022 season. The Aces, who've won two straight championships, are home to two-time MVP A'Ja Wilson, who has yet to receive a signature shoe. The internet's reaction also led to a response from Wilson herself.

Her X post simply states, "Always remember what is delayed is not denied." She may have been trying to calm the internet crowds down, but she is very worthy of her own shoe.

Wilson finished the 2023 season with averages of 22.8 points per game, 9.5 rebounds per game, 1.6 assists per game, 1.4 steals per game, and 2.2 blocks per game. She lit the WNBA on fire and has been on a tear since she entered the professional basketball world in 2018.

Despite not receiving a shoe yet, there is a report that Nike is busy working on making that dream a reality, too. The controversy could be stemming from the famous shoe company taking its sweet time.

Michael Sykes II of For The Win stated on his X page that, "For what it's worth, I've been told A'ja has a shoe coming from folks at Nike multiple times. But when I ask for a timetable, there's never one. Just promises that it's happening. To be clear, I don't think that's good enough anymore."

Sykes indicates that though Wilson is supposedly getting a signature shoe, it has been long talked about but has yet to happen. The waiting is enough for people to question how Clark was immediately awarded a shoe, but Wilson is still on hold. But then again, Wilson herself indicated that she has not been denied—and is simply waiting.