Caitlin Clark, the basketball star, is hoping to seal a shoe contract with Nike, perhaps setting a new record.
Clark, the first overall choice in the WNBA draft and the all-time top scorer in NCAA Division 1, will likely sign an eight-year, $28 million deal with Nike that includes a signature shoe.
The Wall Street Journal and The Athletic report that officials from Excel Sports Management are now in discussions with Nike and Clark.
Still no word from the horse’s mouth, however.
After being signed in 2022, Clark’s prior name, image, and likeness (NIL) agreement came to an end at the end of the 2023–2024 season. This new deal is expected to be the highest-paying sponsorship deal ever signed by a female basketball player.
Clark’s agents said that Under Armour and Adidas had held talks with his team in February. Puma had shown interest in the deal but later withdrew after learning that the bidding would start at $3 million per year.
Adidas put out a $6 million contract for the same time, while Under Armour offered a $16 million agreement that included a signature shoe component.
Clark’s star power was on display during her time as an undergraduate at Iowa, when, according to On3.com, she earned almost $3 million in net income from endorsement deals with companies like Gatorade and State Farm.
Long before Clark decided to become pro and skip her last year at Iowa under the COVID-19 exemption granted to collegiate athletes during the pandemic-affected 2020 season, negotiations over the Nike deal started.
After an incredible season in which she scored 31.6 points per game on average and led the Hawkeyes to their second straight national championship game, Clark was chosen as the number one choice by the Indiana Fever on April 15, collecting a $76,000 rookie pay.
Clark’s popularity is growing every day as a result of the Fever’s national broadcast schedule and the league’s record-breaking ticket sales. Additionally, she just had a well-received performance on “Saturday Night Live,” which further emphasized her engaging presence in the media.
Currently, the Iowa native wants to be a member of the American team in Paris this year, Los Angeles in 2028, and Brisbane, Australia, in 2032–2032.
