No doubt, the Super Bowl is more than just football. Being the first Super Bowl with a President seated among the audience, it has already made history. But with popularity comes opportunity. Companies shelled out millions for a few seconds of airtime to showcase themselves on the biggest advertising stage on the planet. And Caitlin Clark found herself at an important nook of it, alongside 6 other Nike female athletes. Angel Reese’s co-actor was all board watching from afar.

Nike released its first super bowl commercial in about 27 years and it celebrated women with a simple message: “So win.” Narrated by rapper Doechii, the ad conveys, “You can’t make demands… You can’t be proud. You can’t keep score. You can’t stand out…Whatever you do, you can’t win. So Win.” 

Caitlin Clark shared the ad on her own Instagram page to relay: “You’ll be told you can’t do it. So do it anyway💫”  WNBA legend Lisa Leslie couldn’t help but admire the message. “Literally the best commercial tonight ❤️ ed it!!!!!🔥🔥🔥🔥”—she penned.

Clark was featured alongside sports icons like Sabrina Ionescu, A’ja Wilson, Jordan Chiles, Aryna Sabalenka, JuJu Watkins, and Sha’Carri Richardson in a minute-long ad, which could bring Nike’s expense to $16 million for a Super Bowl slot (it reportedly costs $8 million for 30 sec). “Women’s sport isn’t the future, it’s right now,” Ionescu says. And the message resonated with thousands.

Nike’s first Super Bowl commercial was back in 1998. Interestingly, Lisa Leslie was a part of it alongside David Robinson, Michael Johnson and Suzy Hamilton. It’s been nearly three-decades now and with it numerous shift in the marketing. But newly appointed Nike CEO Elliott Hill wants to bring the focus back to sport instead of performance marketing.

Lisa Leslie may have missed out on this one, but she wasn’t void of her own space in a Super Bowl commercial.

Angel Reese fires back with bold moves to match arch-rival Caitlin Clark

Not just Clark—Angel Reese also made history as she became the first female athlete to land a McDonald’s meal deal. She was front and center in a flashy, star-studded ad featuring Breanna Stewart, Leslie, and even rapper Latto. And the ad had all the swagger you’d expect. From her self-proclamation as “Chi-Town Barbie” to delivering lines like “Made mine a double QPC, but a double-double queen”—everything was there to ooze confidence.

But while Reese’s commercial was all about flair and personality, Clark’s Nike ad felt like a career-defining moment. And after all, Nike isn’t just celebrating Clark—they’re truly investing in her. With an eight-year, $28 million endorsement deal already in place, the brand is currently working on her signature shoe and logo.

While these things have been long promised and debated, the Super Bowl ad? That’s another level of endorsement power. Meanwhile, Reese has been stacking endorsements of her own, teaming up with brands like Reebok, Beats by Dre, and Mielle.

If you’re wondering whose ad was better, that’s up for debate. But one thing is for sure—the WNBA’s rising popularity is undeniable.