Barstool Founder Sends 3-Word Message on Viral Caitlin Clark Tribute

The general opinion among the Clark fandom is that Nike is fumbling the ball when it comes to Caitlin Clark. The brand has chosen to divert its attention to A’ja Wilson and her marquee shoe line while keeping Caitlin Clark’s shoe and logo on the back burner. And fans are getting restless and rightly so, as Clark is currently the most popular WNBA athlete by far.

All Nike has done regarding Clark’s shoe and overall marketing efforts is that they have just announced that they are, in fact, in the process of making her shoe line. Considering how A’ja Wilson’s shoes were sold off within minutes, the brand will want to speed up its process to introduce Clark’s shoes, as some fans did not buy the A’Ones to save for Clark’s shoes. They don’t have any updates regarding that yet.

Fan frustration with Nike’s slow rollout of Caitlin Clark’s signature products has been steadily growing. One fan turned that frustration into creativity by producing a powerful tribute poster that has since gone viral. The image shows a wooden boat shaped like the iconic Nike swoosh, with Caitlin Clark standing at the helm, basketball in hand, navigating through stormy waters. The tagline reads, “A rising tide lifts all boats,” a line that captures her influence on the WNBA with striking accuracy. The artwork reached Barstool Sports founder and Indiana Fever superfan Dave Portnoy, who responded with three simple words: “This is awesome.”

The message behind the tribute could not be more fitting. Caitlin Clark is, without question, the rising tide that has lifted the entire WNBA. Since her arrival, the league’s popularity, viewership, merchandise sales, and overall visibility have all reached new heights, much of it directly attributed to her impact. The original post comes from cole on Instagram, who is a digital artist.

Reports suggest that Clark was responsible for generating more than a quarter of the league’s total economic activity last season, and estimates for this year project her influence could surpass one billion dollars. Her impact can be seen in the TV ratings ever since her injury. Fever national TV games are down 53% since Clark’s injury, with 1,810,000 average viewers before her injury and 847,000 viewers since her injury for Fever national TV games. So the league and the Indiana Fever need Clark’s boat to sail smoothly.

What makes the tribute even more remarkable is that it did not come from Nike itself. For many fans, the quality and symbolism of the poster make it feel like it should have been part of an official campaign. The marketing efforts from Nike have been limited to some billboards and their inclusion in their ‘So Win’ advertisement at the Super Bowl. However, they have now ramped up their efforts as they are set ot announce something exciting soon.

Nike to Reportedly Announce Exciting Caitlin Clark Logo News

In April 2024, just days after being drafted into the WNBA, Nike signed Caitlin Clark to a groundbreaking eight-year, $28 million endorsement deal that included plans for a signature shoe, drawing early comparisons to the iconic Jordan brand. More than a year later, there is still no official release date, no campaign, and no product in sight. For an athlete of Clark’s stature, that silence speaks volumes.

The brand has finally heard the pleas of the fans and is set to give something to work with. While it’s not an update regarding her signature shoes, it’s certainly a step towards that. According to Kicks Finder, Nike plans to unveil Clark’s signature logo in Holiday 2025.
That means fans will get their first official look at Clark’s Nike logo in November or December of this year. There have not been any leaked images or mock-ups of what the logo could look like yet.

That’s fairly typical when it comes to Nike’s approach with WNBA athletes. It took a significant amount of time for New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu to finally debut her signature shoe, and even longer for three-time MVP A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces to receive hers. Delays and drawn-out timelines have become the norm, even for the league’s biggest names.

While Nike has played an important role in advancing the women’s game, the landscape is changing rapidly. As the popularity of women’s basketball continues to surge, the brand must evolve with it or risk falling behind. Delayed rollouts and missed marketing opportunities not only affect revenue potential but also prevent athletes from capitalizing on their prime moments.