Caitlin Clark’s endorsement deal with Nike: money, signature shoe...

As we continue to take stock of the effect that Caitlin Clark is having on women’s basketball and women’s sports in general, it simply makes sense that she takes the next step in her career: A major endorsement deal with a globally recognized sporting brand.

Caitlin Clark and Nike are getting together

As The Athletic reports, Caitlin Clark is putting the final touches on a deal with Nike that will see her receive a signature shoe. While no specific numbers have been reported, it is understood that the contract is worth eight figures. When one considers her reported WNBA salary of $338,056 across four years, that’s a significant jump for Clark. Indeed, Clark will earn a base salary of $76,535 as a rookie. For perspective, Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs - the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft - will earn a base salary of $12,160,680 this year. Again, this is a significant jump for Clark.

Of course, it’s not like she isn’t worth it. When one considers the body of work that she achieved with the University of Iowa, it’s staggering. Not only did she establish herself as one of the best playmakers in College Basketball, but she did so while shattering the all-time scoring record. Those performances carried the Hawkeyes to consecutive national championship Games and in the process sparked record-breaking viewership numbers. 18.7 million people watched Clark and Co. take on South Carolina and though her power couldn’t quite inspire the win, the almost 4 million difference in ratings for UConn vs Purdue in the men’s championship Game said that something had changed.

At that point, it was simply par for the course when ratings once again went through the roof for Monday’s WNBA Draft. Unsurprisingly, Clark was selected with the No. 1 overall pick by the Indiana Fever but it still made for great TV. It remains unclear how the WNBA will alter its salary structure, in such a way that it can profit off of the clear marketability of Clark and this newest crop of players.

To that end, we can only assume that contracts like the one she’s about to enter with Nike will be the way players make more money for the time being. That Adidas and Under Armour also made “sizable offers” is a clear testament to the idea that there is interest. Indeed, it’s understood that the Golden State Warriors’ Steph Curry - an Under Armour player with a signature shoe - was present during negotiations with Clark. Ultimately, Clark will now add the coming deal to a portfolio of sponsors that already includes Panini, Gatorade, and State Farm, which leads one to ask if there’s any stopping Caitlin Clark.