Pressure Mounts on Nike as Angel Reese Finally Catches Caitlin Clark’s Shadow With $18 Billion Collab

The Angel Reese-Caitlin Clark rivalry is stepping into a whole new arena. Back when Caitlin Clark signed her massive $28 million Nike deal, fans couldn’t stop buzzing. She was still in college, and her stardom skyrocketed. However, there was a promise in that deal, a signature shoe. Fast forward to now, the brand has announced it won’t be dropping until 2026. And let’s just say fans are not thrilled.

On the flip side, Angel Reese signed with a multiyear endorsement extension in October, and it’s already paying off big time. Did you know Reebok’s parent company, Authentic Brands Group, is worth a whopping $18 billion? That means the Chi-Town Barbie is aligning herself with some serious financial muscle.

And like Clark, Reese will also have to wait until 2026 for her signature sneaker, but her PEs (player exclusives) are already out, and they are fire. From a Chicago Sky-themed design featuring her bold “A” logo to a playful Barbie-pink pair with “Barbie” splashed across the upper, they are super eye-catching.

Each pair is funky, stylish, and full of personality, just like Reese herself. Fans are eating it up, and Sky Forward is having fun with it, teasing on social media, “These are only PE’s!! Wait until 2026, and my actual shoe comes out”. If these PEs are any indication, her signature shoe is going to be a home run.

Meanwhile, Clark’s fans are getting restless. Nike’s CEO, Elliot Hill, revealed during a Q2 earnings call that her signature shoe wouldn’t hit the market until 2026, sparking frustration and even anger among her loyal followers. Fans feel like Nike is dragging its feet, and the backlash is growing louder by the day.

Meanwhile, as much as the 22-year-old enjoys this, she also puts in the work on the court.

After a wrist injury cut her rookie WNBA season short, Reese is now gearing up for the highly anticipated debut of the Unrivaled League, a groundbreaking 3×3 women’s basketball league set to kick off in January 2025. And she’s not taking any chances.

To prepare, Reese has enlisted elite trainer David Alexander. If his name rings a bell, it’s because he’s trained some of the biggest names in sports, including LeBron James.

And Reese isn’t just hitting the gym; she’s putting in marathon hours off the court, too. Earlier this week, she gave fans a sneak peek into her life, sharing a Snapchat story from an 8-hour shoot. “Let the 8 hr shoot BEGINNN,” she wrote, looking a little tired but absolutely determined.

USA Today via Reuters

So here we are, both Reese and Clark gearing up for a 2026 sneaker showdown. Reese’s flashy PEs are already building hype, while Clark’s delayed shoe has left her fans frustrated with Nike. When 2026 rolls around, this rivalry isn’t just going to be about hoops. It’s going to be about who can own the sneaker game. Who do you think is going to win? Let us know in the comments below.