• by Tanya Gazdik , April 24, 2024

Nike has reportedly signed Caitlin Clark, the soon-to-be WNBA mega star, to the biggest sponsorship deal in the history of women’s basketball. 

“After the uproar that she would barely make $76,000 for her rookie year in the WNBA, Caitlin Clark is set to make a lot more thanks to Nike,” according to The Cut. “The soon-to-be Indiana Fever star has a pending deal with the shoe company that will pay her $28 million over eight years.”

The deal also includes a signature shoe for Clark, according to The Athletic, which reports the deal is worth well over $20 million plus potential bonuses. 

Nike’s relationship with Clark began in 2022 during her time in college at the University of Iowa under the NCAA’s “Name, Image, and Likeness” opportunities, according toPeople. 

“Clark’s previous deal with Nike ended after the conclusion of the recently finished college basketball season, which allowed her to hit the market at the peak of her popularity,” according to The Athletic. "Clark was a supernova at the University of Iowa, breaking records and bringing new fans to college basketball. The women’s NCAA Tournament set viewership records with every game in which Iowa played, culminating in 18.9 million viewers for the Hawkeyes’ national title game loss to South Carolina.”

Several brands were interested in Clark, who was the No. 1 pick in the WNBA Draft, but many balked when they heard that she wanted at least $3 million per year, according toThe Wall Street Journal.  

Puma immediately dropped out of the running. Clark received offers of $16 million over four years from Under Armour and $6 million over four years from Adidas, with both including a signature shoe, according to the WSJ.

“Clark earned about $3 million in NIL money at Iowa with deals she has had with State Farm, Gatorade and others, according to On3.com,” noted The Associated Press. “Clark’s agents were working on the new Nike contract even before she announced she would turn pro instead of return to Iowa for a fifth season under the COVID-19 exemption offered to players in college during the 2020 pandemic season.”

Under Armour also made sizable offers to Clark, according to The Athletic.

"Only three other WNBA players – Breanna Stewart (Puma), Elena Delle Donne (Nike) and Sabrina Ionescu (Nike) – currently have signature shoes,” according toUSA Today. “ Ionescu’s deal was reportedly worth $24 million when she signed it in 2020, but according to the Wall Street Journal, she will not get that much. Her deal expires at the end of 2025."