Nike has seen some massive successes with its WNBA collaborations lately. Sabrina Ionescu’s and A’ja Wilson’s signature shoes are incredibly popular. While it is great to finally have WNBA players with big-time signature shoes, many fans are still waiting for Nike to capitalize on its deal with Caitlin Clark.
The Fever superstar signed a new deal with Nike last year. Since then, there has been little news about her shoe. In January, Nike CEO Elliott Hill said Clark’s signature logo was still in the works. Recently, the timeline was updated, saying that the logo can be expected in November or December this year.
If Nike needed any more proof that they were sitting on a goldmine with Clark, they got it. Her player edition of the Kobe V Protro—an Indiana Fever colorway with Navy blue, red, and yellow—sold out in a matter of a few minutes.
The Caitlin Clark effect goes far beyond the WNBA
When Caitlin Clark entered the WNBA, she brought tons of new fans with her. Since her arrival, the Indiana Fever and the WNBA have set several viewership and attendance records. The league’s popularity skyrocketed. While the WNBA’s rise cannot be attributed to only one player, Clark’s impact is undeniable. She has helped draw eyes to the WNBA and women’s basketball in general.
Her presence has been especially beneficial to the Indiana Fever. Not only are the Fever selling tons of tickets and merchandise, but their newfound fans also give them a massive advantage on the road. Fever and Clark fans travel so much that opposing teams have been moving games against Indiana to bigger arenas. The Fever’s road game at Chase Center, against the Golden State Valkyries, was one of the few times Clark actually had to play in a hostile environment.
The Caitlin Clark effect doesn’t stop at bringing people to WNBA games, though. Fans adore Clark no matter what she does, whether that is playing golf, going to the Super Bowl with Taylor Swift, or dropping a new player edition shoe.
Nike has a huge opportunity with Clark’s signature shoe
Nike just got a preview of how much interest there already is in Clark’s signature shoe. If a player edition of another player’s signature shoe sells out in only a few minutes, just imagine how big the hype around her very own shoe would be.
This is a huge opportunity for the company, which may be why Nike is taking its time with the shoe. Fans may be impatient to get their hands on them, but Nike has to make sure that it creates the best possible product to capitalize on Clark’s popularity.