Caitlin Clark is about to get even richer.
Clark, who was the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft two weeks ago, is set to sign an eight-figure shoe contract with Nike, according to reports. The deal is worth $28 million over eight years and includes a signature shoe, according to reports from The Athletic and the Wall Street Journal.
Representatives from Excel Sports Management, which represents Clark, and Nike did not immediately respond to requests for comment from USA TODAY Sports.
The contract represents a significant increase in income for Clark, who will make a base salary of $76,535 as a WNBA rookie in 2024. The $28 million figure is the highest ever paid by a women’s basketball player.
Currently, only three other WNBA players have signature shoes: Breanna Stewart (Puma), Elena Delle Donne (Nike) and Sabrina Ionescu (Nike). (Ionescu’s contract was reportedly worth $24 million when she signed in 2020, but she won’t get that much, according to the Wall Street Journal. Her contract ends at the end of 2025. )
According to the Wall Street Journal, many brands approached Mr. Clark with potential partnerships, but Nike backed away from both the promise of a signature sneaker and a longer contract.
Eight years means Clark will have the opportunity to represent Nike at three Olympics: Paris 2024, Los Angeles 2028 and Australia 2032. The 2024 roster has not yet been finalized, but Clark, who begins play for the Indiana Fever on May 14, is expected to compete heavily for a spot. She missed USA Basketball’s training camp in Cleveland last month — she was busy playing in the Final Four — so her early WNBA play was kind of a hiccup for the senior national team. It will serve as a tryout.
Nike, which had a NIL (name, image and likeness) deal with Clark during his time at the University of Iowa, is on a long list of brands interested in being associated with the 22-year-old. In addition to Nike, Clark has sponsorship deals with State Farm, Gatorade, Buick, Bose and others.
Clark shot to fame last year after breaking records at Iowa State. Tickets to see her play during the regular season cost up to $1,000, and for the second year in a row, millions of people watched her reach the Final Four.
As she begins her professional career, her appeal seems to only increase. Just an hour after she was drafted on April 15, Clark’s jersey was nearly impossible to find online, with most sizes sold out.
Email Lindsey Schnell at lschnell@usatoday.com and follow her on social media @Lindsay_Schnell
