I’m a Kobe person, everybody knows that. It’s the best shoe and it’s not even close.” Indiana Fever superstar, Caitlin Clark is a renowned sneaker-head and an ardent fan of Nike’s athletic shoes. Widely recognised for her sheer determination, grit, and focus in the hardwood, similar to the NBA legend’s ‘Mamba mentality‘ philosophy, the brand decided to extended a warm hand to the-then Iowa star back in 2022. And the rest is history.

Well, Clark has been spotted wearing Nike’s specific line; the Kobe ‘Bruce Lee‘, on numerous occasions since her collegiate days. In fact, she even reached the NCAA all-time scoring list wearing the brand. Therefore, to point out that the bond between the brand and the athlete runs deep would be an understatement. It is a historical partnership instead, that traces Clark’s basketball journey over the years. No wonder the 2024 ROTY signed an 8-year endorsement deal worth $28 million in April 2024.

Needless to say, the brand released a player edition (PE) line with Clark at the center in 2024. The Fever star marked her Nike Kobe 5 Protro PE debut in yellow and black colors as a homage to her relationship with Nike since college days. After all, the colors represented the Iowa Hawkeyes. Moreover, the traditional logo coupled with Kobe Bryant’s signature symbolised her loyalty towards the legend.

Keeping the tradition alive, the brand recently teased fans with a clip from the new shoes in the collection. The official Nike Basketball account shared the first look of the latest Kobe 5 Protro PE on X (former Twitter) ahead of the June 30 launch. They captioned the 40-second clip with, “When @caitlinclark22 laces her new Kobe 5 Protro PE, she steps into a new dimension. Noise fades, focus hits, and all that’s left is her drive to dominate. Available 6.30 on SNKRS in select regions.”

The video features a seated Clark with clasped hands. Her gaze is fixated on her feet, lost in thought, despite an on-court announcement in the background. Known for her sharp court vision, the athlete ties the flaming orange laces of the Kobe 5 Protro PE shoes. What follows next is enough to give us chills. The black and white frames captured the reigning rookie’s connection with the athletic company. And captured the hearts of all those connected with Clark.

Nike is shown to accompany the player each time she has dived in for a bucket or clinched a win on the hardwood. The shoes are a testament to her raw aggressiveness and flawless shots. Having said that, the brand’s CEO, Elliott Hill, confirmed Clark’s involvement in overseeing the brand’s logo and signature design, that resembles Indiana Fever’s blue and orange colors.

Having said that, Scott Agness reposted the clip on X and shared an important update for fans who wish to buy the latest shoes. “It’s not a signature shoe just yet, but Caitlin Clark’s player exclusive Kobe 5 will be available Monday at 10a ET on SNKRS app. $190,” Agness said. The shoes are expected to hit the store on Monday, June 30, 2025. The latest footwear is an updated version of Bryant’s fifth generation sneaker, that is designed keeping step-back jumpers in mind.

The minimalist design is a lighter version with a flexible air-zoom unit that features an EKG-inspired traction pattern on the outsole. Also, it features a symmetric Asian-styled logo that carries a symbolic meaning. On the first glance, it symbolises a sword-in-sheath emblem. The geometric pattern represents Kobe’s talent as the shield, and the sheath as his on-court perfection. Moreover, the symbol represents a snake too, signifying the “Mamba” mentality of swiftness, resilience, and knowing when to strike.

Needless to say, this fruitful partnership has benefitted the brand, who is expecting fiery sales. While still in her sophomore year with the Fever, Clark’s charisma has widely influenced television ratings and viewerships in the W. Moreover, the latest announcement comes days before the Commissioner Cup finals, where Indiana Fever is expected to face Minnesota Lynx on July 01, 2025. As Fever prepares for the final showdown, fans wait in anticipation of Clark gracing the active roster once again.

Caitlin Clark’s absence is a reality check for Indiana Fever

While Caitlin Clark’s electrifying 32-point return reignited the Indiana Fever with a fresh vigor, the momentum came to an abrupt halt. Again. After a three-week-long absence from May 28 to June 10 due to a left quadriceps strain, Clark had made a triumphant comeback. But her latest injury was enough to the roster spiralling.

Clark was recently benched after suffering a left groin injury during the matchup against the Seattle Storm. As a result, she missed the game against the LA Sparks and the Dallas Wings. Needless to say, the Indiana Fever struggled once again against the Los Angeles Sparks as they gave up a late lead to drop to a 7-8 record.

The team finished with a 10-point deficit in their belt. However, Kelsey Mitchell scored 32 points and 7 assists as Aliyah Boston added 21 points and 6 rebounds, the two ensured to keep the team afloat against the Wings. While still massively struggling with the defences in the absence of Caitlin Clark, the Fever managed an impressive 94-86 victory and reset the win-loss stat to a balanced 8-8.

As they progress in the 2025 regular season, can Indiana Fever teammates keep up with the exceptional run without the star athlete or fumble in her absence? While Clark serves as a major asset for the team, Boston and Mitchell have shed their initial inhibitions and stepped up to climb the Eastern Conference standings.