Any drama regarding Caitlin Clark’s next stop in her basketball career ended when the Indiana Fever landed the first pick in the WNBA Draft.
But the same couldn’t be said for her shoe deal, as perhaps the biggest star in the history of women’s basketball was part of an intense battle among some of the top shoe companies.
In the end, Clark is in line for an eight-year deal that could end up being worth $28 million and a signature shoe, according to the Wall Street Journal.
It came after Clark took college women’s hoops to new heights, with record-setting TV ratings based largely on her popularity as the most prolific scorer in the sport’s history.
The sharp-shooting Clark’s previous deal with Nike was inked in 2022 and expired following this past season — and after the six-foot Clark cemented herself as not just the most well-known women’s college hoopster, but arguably the most popular college basketball player — male or female — last season.
The negotiations reached a fierce pace, according to the Wall Street Journal, at NBA All-Star weekend in mid-February, when Clark’s representatives from Excel Sports Management met with brands like Adidas, Under Armour and Puma — in addition to Nike — and told them they were looking for a $3 million per year deal as a starting point.
At the time, Clark had yet to declare for the WNBA Draft, but it was clear she would be the brightest star in the sport again next year — whether still at the University of Iowa or as a pro.
In fact, some executives, according to the report, believed Clark would be more popular if she stayed another year at Iowa rather than going to the WNBA.
But Clark’s performance this season makes her set to be a star even in the WNBA next season.
Still, according to the report, Puma balked at the $3 million starting point and left the negotiations. They already have Breanna Stewart of the New York Liberty on the roster with her own signature shoe.
A Zoom call involving Clark, her reps and Adidas left the company “surprised by how engaged, curious and well-prepared” Clark — who studied marketing at Iowa — was on the call, the Journal said.
But their offer of four years and $6 million didn’t come close to the $3 million per year mark.
Under Armour included its client, Stephen Curry, in its attempt to land Clark, The Athletic reported, and came in with a $16 million deal over four years, including a signature shoe.
No one could match Nike, though, which may have Clark’s Olympics future in mind.
The eight-year deal would last through the next three Olympic Games, starting this summer in Paris, as well as 2028 in Los Angeles and 2032 in Brisbane, Australia.
The US roster for this summer’s Olympics has yet to be announced.
Sabrina Ionescu, also of the Liberty, is reported to have received a $24 million deal from Nike, but injuries will reportedly prevent her from getting all of it.
I am not impressed.