No. 22—It’s a number that links Caitlin Clark and A’ja Wilson in more ways than one. On February 2, 2025, both the Iowa’s and South Carolina’s respective No. 22 jerseys were officially retired. In 2024, Wilson claimed the WNBA MVO honors, while Clark took home WNBA Rookie of the Year honors. Now, the two might have something else in common—except this time, it’s tied to a $53 billion brand and the sneaker industry’s latest controversy.

Earlier this month, reports surfaced stating Nike was to release Caitlin Clark’s Kobe 5 PE which she had debuted in the Indiana Fever colorway during her playoff run. However, according to a post by Sole Retriever on X, “DESPITE THE RUMORS: Contrary to reports, there are currently no plans for Nike to release @CaitlinClark22’s Kobe 5 PE in 2025.” This statement quashed speculation that had been building since the release of Wilson’s A’One shoes.

The buzz surrounding Clark’s potential Kobe-branded PE reached a fever pitch, especially after X user Ayomide noted on February 19, “Nike is playing a dangerous game if they release this in the same window as A’One. The discourse here is going to be crazy.”

And it is crazy. With Nike only elongating any release Clark-related, fans are growing eager and impatient. Some bet they are gonna out sell the A’Ones.

On a recent episode of House of Strauss, NBA agent and marketing expert Nate Jones weighed in, suggesting Clark’s sidelined shoe deal was, at least in part, about keeping Wilson happy. “I think a lot of [Clark not yet having Nike product] has to do with managing everything that they’re hearing from athletes, participants, fanbase, athletes themselves on the WNBA side,” Jones said.

He didn’t stop there. “I got handed lightning in a bottle, and I don’t have a shoe for her rookie year. And I’m likely not gonna have a shoe for her next year. But I’ve got the MVP of the league, A’ja Wilson, her shoe is coming out. And it feels like a lot of this is around avoiding upsetting that, right?” The announcement about Clark’s signature shoe came around May last year, 6 years since A’ja had been with the brand. So for some, it made more sense the 2024 MVP came first, but for others, Clark seemed like a good opportunity.

“It’s business… No matter what you think of A’ja Wilson, it’s obvious the business opportunity with Caitlin Clark is much more substantial and much less risky,” Jones had continued.

And well it was not just agents and experts that were up in arms, fans were too

Is Nike playing it safe or missing out on Caitlin Clark’s mania?

One fan didn’t hold back, declaring, “Doesn’t matter what they do, no matter when any shoes related to CC release, they are gonna smash A’ja’s by 300x.” Bold? Maybe. But baseless? Not at all.

Despite being a rookie, Clark finished just 1,346 votes behind Wilson in the WNBA All-Star fan voting—Wilson led with 217,773, while Clark was right behind at 216,427. Her impact on the league has been seismic. The 2024 WNBA season has shattered viewership records, averaging 1.32 million viewers across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, and CBS—nearly triple last season’s 462,000 average, much of it driven by Clark’s presence.

Her marketability is undeniable. Clark’s jersey didn’t just lead WNBA sales; it outsold the entire Dallas Cowboys’ lineup last year. The demand isn’t just high—it’s historic.

However, not everyone sees it that way. Another fan pointed out, “It’s only a PE. Very different than the A’One and an old leak. The discourse will discourse but it’s more than fine to release ASAP even at the same time—especially in the same quarter.” While Clark’s rumored shoe isn’t a full-fledged signature line like Wilson’s, the fear remains that its sales could overshadow Wilson’s A’One drop. The discussion around timing, fairness, and market strategy has made this a bigger issue than just sneaker releases.

One fan quipped, “Only hurting themselves financially too cause not very many people gonna cop both.” And looking at the numbers, they might have a point. Clark’s merchandise doesn’t just sell—it vanishes. Her trading card recently fetched a staggering $234,850, and the “Fever Rising” basketball sold out within 30 minutes of launch. With that kind of demand, Nike could be leaving a fortune on the table by not releasing her sneaker sooner.

When the news broke that Clark’s Kobe 5 PE wasn’t coming in 2025, another fan insisted, “When they do release her shoe, they better have a million pairs in every size, both men and women, and in at least four colorways.”

Clark’s appeal stretches far beyond the WNBA. According to TVRev.com, 85% of those who have watched Clark-focused videos on YouTube since November 1 were men. That statistic isn’t just surprising—it’s proof that Clark’s brand has mass-market pull.

Wilson’s camp quickly became the focal point of speculation, with fans convinced that behind-the-scenes maneuvering played a role in Clark’s delayed shoe release. “Hmm, A’ someone probably complained, and that’s a damn shame,” one fan remarked. Another didn’t hold back: “Of course, they don’t want these non-signature shoes outselling Wilson’s signature shoe 1000 to 1 because Caitlin be wearing them. We can’t have that, can we?”

Speculation aside, the bigger question looms: Is Nike making a calculated business move to avoid controversy, or are they sidelining billions by not striking while Clark’s popularity is at its peak? The debate rages on, and until Nike makes its next move, Wilson and Clark remain at the center of one of the most polarizing sneaker showdowns in WNBA history.