The 22-year-old has often been compared to veterans like A’ja Wilson for her massive fan following. However, things went a little out of hand when Clark signed an 8-year deal with the sporting company Nike that also included a sneaker deal. By this time, the Las Vegas Aces stalwart Wilson hadn’t announced her shoe agreement and Clark’s formidable endorsements somewhat downplayed the efforts of Wilson, as per her fans. But, Wilson too, in a short span, inked a contract with Nike. And a lot of fans, at that time, believed that Clark had helped Wilson indirectly in landing a deal. However, Wilson denied the same in a recent interview.

Wilson was present in a chat with Footwear News and the 27-year-old talked about everything from her on-court journey to her off-court endeavors. In all of this, one thing that caught the fancy of fans was Wilson negating any influence of Clark in her shoe deal.

“The conversation [on social media] was like, ‘Now you have a shoe because of Caitlin.’ No, it was never that. What is for me was always going to be for me, with or without this rookie class. I promise you that. Nike taught me a lot about being patient. My patience was definitely tested, but I’m grateful because trusting that process, I now have a shoe that I’m happy with,” Wilson stated via Footwear News.

Clark signed a $28 million 8-year deal with Nike in April. This led many of the followers to believe that Wilson too should have her shoe deal given that she was a veteran with vast experience of 6 years in the league. The 2x MVP who had signed with Nike in 2018 had to keep shut for much time since the sporting goods company wasn’t giving hints of inking a shoe deal with Wilson. All this time, there was a lot of buzz on social media by her critics.

However, Wilson shut her haters when she announced her shoe deal A’One with Nike in May. This was seen as a watershed moment in Wilson’s dominance by her fans. As stated by Wilson, “what is delayed is not denied” and hence, Clark had no role to play in her agreement. Meanwhile, Wilson also shared details about her sneaker line in the same interview.

A’ja Wilson talks about the A’One

Wilson stated that she was excited about her shoe line and revealed that it was going to be a “versatile” shoe that could be donned by fans on different occasions. The sneakers that are slated to release in 2025 are “comfortable and durable” and match her style of play. They will help athletes ply their trade seamlessly without any extra effort and are a “low top.”

Wilson, as per reports, has been involved in the design and development of the sneaker line. As per her designer Ben Nethongkome, the 2x WNBA Champion and her open communication has helped improve the shoe which has led to “better conversations, design and more.”

Perhaps, now that Wilson has come forward to reveal her side of the story, fans will put to rest any theories they have. Meanwhile, she can look to perform exceptionally well at the Olympics and solidify her legacy on the international stage.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting pilot episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and SEC All-Freshman Team Selection, Silas Demary Jr.