Caitlin Clark and A’ja Wilson are in a battle off the court with Nike at the center
The WNBA MVP and Rookie of the Year are signed to the same brand.
A’ja Wilson is the cream of the crop in the WNBA, that much is clear. The 28-year-old was already a two-time WNBA MVP and WNBA Champion heading into this season, and now she has another MVP award to add to the trophy cabinet, with another ring possibly on the way as well. Before she achieved all of this, she was the WNBA Rookie of the Year in 2018. Caitlin Clark wants to follow that same path.
Clark locked up the 2024 Rookie of the Year award recently, and there’s no doubt in anyone’s mind that she’ll eventually be an MVP and possible champion at some point in the future. One aspect where Clark has Wilson beat now, though, is in off-court influence. Clark’s aura grew tenfold during her college career, leading to her signing a huge deal with Nike in April. One month later, Nike signed Wilson to the roster.
Caitlin Clark comments on how it feels to be among the players up for MVP award
Nike is waiting to release Caitlin Clark’s signature shoe
It was reported that Clark would be getting a signature shoe relatively soon. That hasn’t happened yet, and it may be Wilson’s “fault”. According to basketball reporter Ethan Strauss, Nike deliberately delayed the shoe’s release.
Based on conversations with people in the know, it indeed has something to do with WNBA MVP and Nike athlete A’ja Wilson. But beyond Wilson, it’s about a culture at the company that’s more concerned with quelling noise rather than making it, as Nike once used to.
Nike is essentially giving priority to Wilson before Clark when it comes to releasing a signature shoe for both. It’s a type of seniority, but one that makes sense given Wilson’s incredible accolades that continue to pour in. They don’t want to get on her bad side.
Both players will get their signature shoe as the time passes. Nike is lucky enough to have both, with both of their huge fanbases to market to.
