Nike Criticism Amplified by National Analyst After Caitlin Clark’s Boyfriend Highlights Brand’s $28 Million Fumble

The time in the third quarter was running out, Clark knew she was being subbed out as soon as the quarter ended. “I had to give the fans a little something. I told you I was going to pregame, so.” she said. Caitlin would do just that as she pulled up from the deep, knocking down a jumper reminiscent of her record-breaking shot that took her atop the NCAAW scoring list. The Carver-Hawkeye Arena were witness to a special game on Sunday. The first exhibition showdown to be nationally televised, the excitement of the fans shined through as they packed the arena 90 minutes prior to tip-off. It was her first time returning to Iowa since joining the WNBA, and Clark got the homecoming any hero deserves.

But while the Iowa fans reached the Carver-Hawkeye well in advance, there was someone who did not show up.

The event, which was bound to be a glorious night for the face of women’s basketball, was marred by the absence of Nike, who also happen to be Clark’s biggest sponsor with a $28 million deal in place. Although discontent was the common sentiment across the internet, the most prominent one came from Clark’s partner, Connor McCaffrey, who took a subtle dig. The Butler assistant coach retweeted a sarcastic post from X user @caitisland that read: “.@Nike yall don’t got internet or what?” Connor, who is known to be vocal in her support of Clark, made sure to call out the disrespect.

There was no shoutout or marketing to uplift their athlete by Nike, and it did not go unnoticed. While McCaffery called it out on one end, analyst Rachel DeMita expanded on it on her podcast. “Nike seems to be continuing to fumble the bag when it comes to Caitlin,” she said. As Nike missed out on the opportunity to market their star in front of a fanbase that displays a cult-like passion for her, Gatorade made sure to capitalize. The sports drink brand tweeted, “Real home court advantage, Welcome back to Iowa @caitlinclark22.” posting a graphic of the Fever guard’s return.

As Clark delivered multiple moment of brilliance in the exhibition game, Nike’s silence offended fans across the league. With no updates on the signature shoe that was included in the $28 million deal she signed last year, many think Nike are not showing their star her due respect. Even if we were to set the emotions aside, it was also an opportunity to sell Clark merch to her extremely loyal fans. The thrill of the WNBA and its pop up merch stores aren’t a common occurrence here, as fans in the city do not have a franchise of their own. Coach White explained, “Oftentimes, it’s difficult for fans to get to a WNBA city, and we have great college basketball fan bases throughout the country that deserve an opportunity to see these women doing what they do at the highest level.”

DeMita highlights Nike’s behavior has been passive from the get go. “The merch is very limited that they put out for Caitlin Clark. And a lot of fans are wondering why. People want to buy Caitlin Clark things. And they especially want to buy Caitlin Clark Nike things.” she said. While Clark does have her own edition of the Kobe 5 Protro dropping on the June 1st, Rachel believes Nike’s delay with Clark’s signature sneaker is losing them money. 

Nike fumbling another shooter

While Nike Basketball has been home to the elite athletes across the NBA & the W, the one star they still lose sleep over now has a lifetime deal with Under Armour. Before Warriors star Stephen Curry signed with Under Armour in 2013, he was signed to Nike. But in a meeting where his named was mispronounced by Nike officials and the presentation was one originally made for Kevin Durant, Curry decided against re-signing with the brand.

Nike’s offer reportedly significantly lower than what Under Armour offered, and there was a sense that Nike did not view Curry as a top-tier athlete who warranted a signature shoe and a central role in their marketing. They were already heavily invested in stars like LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Kevin Durant. This move is widely considered one of the biggest misses in sports endorsement history for Nike, as Curry went on to become a global icon and a massive asset to the Under Armour brand.

While the fact that her jersey sales were only second to Steph in 2024 should be enough on its own, it seems Nike still haven’t comprehended Clark’s gravity. The star who has drawn crowds wherever stepped foot continues to bring that effect to the WNBA. Although Clark’s love for Nike has been visible in her choice of sneakers since her days in Iowa, such incidents can stir the pot. DeMita also believes that while Clark’s deal is the biggest in women’s basketball, it still isn’t enough. “The deal that Nike put on the table for Caitlin Clark. It seems like she is severely underpaid in this deal. For the type of motion that she is bringing to the WNBA.” said the National Analyst. 

Although it is not known if Nike would be releasing a statement responding to this lapse in judgement, one thing is for sure. They need to get their ducks in order at the earliest. If they don’t, they might fumble on the greatest shooter of all time again. Only this time it will be in the women’s league.