Caitlin Clark is sticking with the Swoosh.
Days after being taken first overall by the Indiana Fever in Monday’s WNBA draft, Clark is expected to sign an “eight-figure” endorsement deal with Nike and get her own signature shoe, according to The Athletic.
Clark had an NIL deal with Nike as a college player at Iowa, but it concluded at the end of the Hawkeyes’ season, allowing her to hit the market at the height of her popularity. She had a similar situation with Fanatics, but decided to flip to Panini ahead of her pro career starting.
On Thursday, reporter Shams Charania said that “it’s fair to say that it’s above $20 million.” The duration of the deal is unknown.
Fellow shoe powers Adidas and Under Armour also pursued Clark, The Athletic reported, with Warriors star Stephen Curry sitting in Clark’s pitch meeting. The two players have been compared to each other because of their long-range three-point shooting. Curry is Under Armour’s key athlete in its basketball division. South Carolina freshman guard MiLaysia Fulwiley recently signed a multi-year NIL deal with Under Armour’s Curry Brand. South Carolina beat Iowa in the national championship game on April 7.
Clark set numerous records at Iowa while breaking and then re-breaking television ratings while selling out arenas nationwide. Monday’s draft was the league’s most-watched event in 20 years, drawing 2.5 million viewers. Her arrival comes at a time when the league is trying to expand and double its current media rights deal.
Editors’ note, Apr. 18, 2:06 p.m. ET: This story has been updated to reflect reports that Clark’s deal will be worth more than $20 million.
