Caitlin Clark has undeniably transformed the landscape of women’s basketball, contributing to the recent surge in WNBA viewership and popularity. This rise was evident even during her time at Iowa, where her impressive NIL deals and endorsements—Nike among them—showcased her star power. However, one of her notable milestones has now taken a backseat, thanks to one of her own Indiana Fever teammates, who made headlines with the franchise a year before Clark joined.

A recent photo lighting up social media shows a larger-than-life moment for Indiana Fever Center, Aliyah Boston, in one of the world’s busiest spots: Times Square. Adidas featured her on a towering billboard, with her name proudly displayed in the bottom corner. An enthusiastic Clark’s fan account on X captured the excitement, tweeting, “Look who’s in Times Square right now!!! ❤️❤️.”

While Boston proudly graces a billboard in Times Square, Caitlin Clark also made her mark in New York City with a Nike billboard of her own. However, Clark’s display wasn’t located in the bustling heart of Times Square; instead, it found its home in another area of the Big Apple, the Swarovski Penn Plaza. That billboard featured an image of Clark smiling on the court that was captioned, “Is there a rookie record for rookie records?” along with the giant Nike Swish logo.

Looking back at Aliyah Boston’s entry into the WNBA, it mirrors Caitlin Clark’s in many ways. The Indiana Fever had celebrated both Boston as the No. 1 pick in 2023 and Clark as this season’s top pick, as they made a significant impact in their rookie years, with Boston winning the ROTY title last year. However, their brand partnerships tell a different story. Clark has been a proud Nike representative since her time at Iowa, while Boston signed with Adidas immediately after being drafted first overall.

This highlights a savvy marketing strategy from Adidas. Even though the brand’s market value stands at $42 billion—less than Nike’s—Boston’s prominent placement speaks volumes about their efforts to elevate her profile in a way that outshines Nike’s efforts for Clark’s recognition. Moreover, this unfolds just as Nike faces pressure to deliver on the signature shoe they promised Clark as part of her deal.

Caitlin Clark’s soaring popularity puts pressure on Nike

Even with Caitlin Clark enjoying some downtime on the golf course this offseason, her popularity is anything but on pause—it’s actually soaring. This rising fame was clear when an exclusive set of Clark memorabilia hit the market, only to sell out within minutes. And recently, a rare, one-of-a-kind Caitlin Clark autographed 2024 Panini card appeared on eBay, listed at a jaw-dropping $350,000, shattering her previous record card price of $97,212.

All this buzz could be piling pressure on sports giant Nike, who has yet to reveal any progress on Caitlin Clark’s highly anticipated signature sneaker line. After the Indiana star signed a lucrative $28 million contract with Nike last April—complete with the promise of her very own sneaker line—fans have been eagerly awaiting its debut. Yet, as time ticks on, they’re left wondering when Clark’s signature shoe will finally make its way to the shelves.

Reports suggest Nike is focusing on rolling out A’ja Wilson’s signature line first, especially after Wilson secured her third MVP title this year. This prioritization even sparked some chatter, with rumors floating that Clark might reconsider her deal with Nike and join her Indiana Fever teammate Aliyah Boston over at Adidas. However, these rumors seemed pretty weak since Clark has continued to proudly sport Nike sneakers during her public appearances, putting those rumors to rest for now.

With Adidas making strategic moves to spotlight their athletes and Clark’s popularity only rising, Nike might want to pick up the pace on delivering her promised signature line. At the very least, fans are eager for an update to keep the excitement alive and see Nike follow through on its commitment.