feature-image

Imago

feature-image

Imago

The happiness of Caitlin Clark fans is just about to double. Clark returned to the court competitively for the first time in 8 months and delivered a masterclass. At the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers, Clark led Team USA in points (58), assists (32) and efficiency (73). She won her second International MVP to cap off a successful comeback. Just as fans were preparing for a busy offseason, multiple leaks of a new Caitlin Clark PE have appeared.

Terrell Owens holding Dude Wipes XL

Unfortunately, there are no signs of Clark’s signature shoe yet. Like a former Nike executive said last year, “They want to get it right.” Clark herself said it’s “probably been a year and a half” of figuring out what she wants in her shoe and how to make it unique to her and also be comfortable wearing it. Meanwhile, she is expected to get another Player Edition of the Kobe 5 Protro. 

Watch What’s Trending Now!

According to House of Heat, Clark’s next Protro feature is named Caitlin Clark x Nike Kobe 5 Protro “Coconut Milk” and will release June 1. However, some other reports name it as the “Bright Spruce/Midnight Spruce” color scheme. 

ADVERTISEMENT

It features a deep white or coconut milk combined with bright spruce colors.  The inner lining features a darker midnight blue shade, while a pop of University Red on the tongue completes the look. The color scheme could reference the Charlotte Hornets, which was the team that first drafted Kobe Bryant. The shoes are rumored to launch at a retail price of $190 in adult sizes on the Nike SNKRS app and at select retailers.

ADVERTISEMENT

This will be Clark’s fourth PE to be released for the fans. So far two have already been released: the Indiana Fever Kobe 5 Protro and the Light Armory Kobe 6 Protro. Both sold out within minutes of the limited launch. Clark’s Rookie of the Year colorway is expected to debut soon. But there is no confirmed date yet. While Clark continues to make waves on the court, she has earned the respect of a legend off it. 

ADVERTISEMENT

Diana Taurasi Hints Sue Bird Role In Caitlin Clark’s Team USA Number

Caitlin Clark wears the iconic 23 for the Indiana Fever and was expected to do the same for team USA. But then, she appeared in that No. 12 jersey and surprised all the fans. “I didn’t get to pick,” Clark said. “If I eventually make the team in international basketball, it’s 4 through 15, those are the only numbers.” But No. 12 belongs to one of the greatest WNBA players of all time, Diana Taurasi and the legend has revealed her feelings about Clark succeeding her. 

“I spent two decades wearing that jersey and that number, and I couldn’t think of anyone better to take it and put it on and just have an amazing career. And Caitlin will do that,” Taurasi told Sports Illustrated. “She had a great qualifier down in Puerto Rico. It’s just going to be fun to watch her play in the summer, in Germany, and then, the Olympics. No one better to wear the 12, and Caitlin’s going to put some gold medals on that jersey, you know.” 

ADVERTISEMENT

In that same interview, she also hinted at the fact that theTeam USA director, Sue Bird, might have intentionally manipulated the situation so Clark got the No. 12. “You know, once I’m out of things, I’m out,” she said. “Maybe Sue (Bird), you know, she’s a little bit more calculated than people think. So maybe that was a Sue job. That wouldn’t surprise me.”

However, this praise shows that Clark has earned Taurasi’s respect. When Clark was drafted, she infamously said that “reality is coming” for Clark. She doubted whether Clark can make the same impact in the WNBA as she did in college basketball. She was proven wrong. Last year, after Clark had one of the best rookie seasons of all time, Taurasi admitted that “reality is coming to her now.” And now her glowing backing of Clark wearing the No. 12 further adds to her support for Clark. 

ADVERTISEMENT

Share this with a friend:

Link Copied!

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Written by

author-image

Soham Kulkarni

1,214 Articles

Soham Kulkarni is a WNBA Writer at EssentiallySports, where he focuses on data-backed reporting and performance analysis. A Sports Management graduate, he examines how spacing in efficiency zones, shot selection, and statistical shifts drive results. His work goes beyond the numbers on the scoreboard, helping readers see how underlying trends affect player efficiency and the evolving strategies of the women’s game. With a detail-oriented and analytical approach, Soham turns complex data into accessible narratives that bring clarity to the fastest-moving moments of basketball. His reporting captures not just what happened, but why it matters, showing fans how small efficiency gains, defensive structures, and tempo shifts can alter outcomes. At ES, he provides a sharper, stats-first lens on the WNBA’s present and future.

Know more

ADVERTISEMENT