15,000 fans packed a sold-out Hawkeye-Carver arena, ESPN drawing 1.3 million viewers (peaking at 1.6M), and resale ticket prices soaring to a jaw-dropping $440 average– Caitlin Clark’s homecoming to Iowa was rightly defined by Gatorade– “Real home court advantage.” The reigning league ROTY added 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists, with a highlight dagger 36-ft logo-3 sending thunder across the arena. No doubt, the game had all the elements of a marquee moment– star power and emotion. For her sponsors, it was a prime marketing opportunity. However, the point guard’s primary sponsor, the $82.48 billion behemoth– Nike, overlooked the WNBA’s biggest draw… Once again!

Just last year, despite the 2024 first-overall pick signing an 8-year, $28 million deal with the sports athleisure giant to step-up her 2022 NIL deal, there have been moments that Nike failed to cash in on Clark after the Des Moines native’s Caitlin Clark Effect also profited the brand. Just take the example of their Nike Kobe 5 Protro “Bruce Lee” that the WNBA sophomore wore throughout her time at Iowa and also in her homecoming. The shoes originally, in November 2020, went for $180 in adult sizes. But with Clark’s sign of approval, they now have an average resale price of $582 on StockX. And as Rachel DeMita put, “There’s no doubt that Caitlin’s fans want to buy her merch, especially her Nike merch.”

But despite it all, the brand fumbled again after it couldn’t specify a date for her signature shoes drop last year. Instead, just like earlier this week, the brand continues to build on fellow WNBA star A’ja Wilson’s signature shoe fanfare. In September 2024, Ethan Strauss on his website House of Strauss mentioned, “The explanation I hear from industry people for why Clark got sandbagged is, “A’ja Wilson has to come first.” Why? Well, just because I guess.” Even the Indiana Fever star’s boyfriend re-tweeted a sarcastic post from an X user, “.@Nike yall don’t got internet or what?” Whether it was a deliberate move to ignore Clark or a misstep, the No. 22 followers are losing patience.

Now, Nike has come up with some major shake-ups at the top of its organization back in early May. And especially former Chief Marketing Officer Nicole Graham being promoted to EVP, Chief Marketing Officer, fans could expect promoting Clark the way she has. But seems like we’re still just right there. According to a tweet by Front Office Sports, “A’ja Wilson’s first signature shoe, the Nike A’One, sold out within minutes. Sneaker experts say that the scarcity of the drop shows Nike is going all-out to promote the shoe. “It shows us that Nike believes this shoe is worthy of generating hype and marketing around it.”” But it’s not to say that Nike has simply not promoted Clark.

To Nike’s credit, here’s a rundown of recent brand activations:

• • June 1, 2025 – Nike Kobe 5 Protro “Indiana Fever” PE: A custom Clark-branded version of the Kobe 5s, reflecting Fever colors and her rising star power.
  • Holiday 2025 – Nike Kobe 6 Protro “Light Armory Blue” PE: A clean, sleek blue-themed release expected to spark massive demand.
  • February 2025 – Billboard in Chicago: A prominent ad campaign positioning Clark as “the future” of the game.
  • February 2025 – Super Bowl Commercial: Nike featured Clark during the biggest sports broadcast of the year, confirming her status as a key part of their women’s basketball strategy.

But the louder Wilson’s campaign got, the more deafening Clark’s absence became. No shoe. No campaign. No rollout. As Nike’s leadership shifts behind the scenes, fans aren’t just celebrating Wilson’s moment—they’re asking the bigger question: Why is Caitlin Clark still waiting?

Fans to Nike: “Do Better for Caitlin Clark”

Nike might’ve rolled out a few high-profile moves—like a Super Bowl ad, a flashy billboard in Chicago, and even an exclusive sneaker drop—but fans aren’t convinced the sportswear giant is truly backing Caitlin Clark like she deserves. In fact, many believe Nike is dropping the ball on the most marketable star in women’s basketball.

One fan kept it simple but effective: “@Nike should make some Caitlin Clark shoes. I bet those would sell out.”

And honestly, they’re right. Nike wouldn’t even need to create artificial scarcity to generate hype. While that’s not reported, some sources suggest that only 100 pairs were manufactured for the first sales round. Clark’s signature Wilson basketball—part of the Fever Rising collection—priced at $24.95, the ball sold out in just 30 minutes, proving she brings real consumer power. That wasn’t just hype—it was demand, raw and measurable. And her Fever jersey? Sold out within minutes on the draft day itself back on April 15, 2024.

Another fan took it a step further, drawing a link between criticism and corporate shakeups: “Yesterday @nosyone4 made a space about how Nike don’t promote Caitlin Clark and the next day Nike announce leadership changes lmao.”

Now, maybe it’s just a coincidence—and yes, leadership changes like this are likely planned months in advance. But still, Nike quietly replaced four major executives across marketing, growth, innovation, and even their president shortly after these criticisms went viral. And while it might’ve been a logistical error that Nike missed Caitlin’s homecoming game in Iowa, fans definitely noticed the larger narrative: fans are demanding more, and Nike is adjusting—publicly or not.

Another fan tweeted with surgical precision: “Noting down the names of the new Nike leadership. Will watch closely what changes they’ll make in marketing baby goat Caitlin Clark going forward. Should start with a revised package to the tune of $100M+ in 10 years.”

It’s a bold suggestion— but Caitlin already has the richest WNBA endorsement deal in history: a reported eight-year, $28 million contract with Nike. Before her, the top deal belonged to Sabrina Ionescu, who signed a $24 million, four-year deal in 2020. So yes, $100 million might be ambitious—but considering Clark’s unmatched popularity from college basketball to the WNBA, fans believe Nike should think bigger.

Then came one of the most detailed posts in the mix: “Hey Caitlin Clark regarding Nike.”—alongside a legal breakdown on how contracts can be voided for gross incompetence or negligence. The message? If Nike’s not delivering, maybe Clark should walk.

The post ignited debate, with some claiming A’ja Wilson’s signature shoe undermines Clark’s deal—but let’s be real, Clark’s signature sneaker is already in the works. Plus, her Nike Kobe 5 Protro “Indiana Fever” PE drops June 1, 2025 for $190, and it’s expected to fly off shelves.

Another user pointed to optics—and who’s watching them: “It’s fine that Nike announces changes but we’ve yet to feel any changes. And I wouldn’t think too much of this but the fact Caitlin’s boyfriend liked that tweet speaks volumes about what her circle thinks.”

Indeed, Connor McCaffery, Clark’s boyfriend, did like a tweet criticizing Nike for its silence during the Indiana Fever’s preseason game vs. Brazil’s National Team. Notably, Gatorade—another brand partnered with Clark—posted content hyping her up. Nike, in contrast, stayed silent. Fans noticed. So did her inner circle.

And then came a scathing review from another furious fan: “@Nike your marketing team is trash. Caitlin Clark is your biggest star and she is nowhere to be found after drawing 1.3 million viewers in her preseason game in Iowa. You have to be the worst sponsor in America. I hope she drops you like a hot rock. You guys are retarded!”

Brutal? Yes. But it highlights the emotional investment and loyalty of Clark’s growing fanbase—and their increasing frustration. But some fans aren’t convinced. One fan summarized the sentiment with a jab at Nike’s business health, “I know if Caitlin’s shoe was the one released today @nike stock would be look way better.”

They even attached a chart showing how Nike’s stock has been declining steadily, with a -24.87% dip since November 2024. While Clark’s postponed shoe launch (originally expected in September 2024) isn’t the only reason for the slump, fans are clearly drawing connections between perceived missteps and financial performance.