ECONOMY & WORK
MONEY 101
NEWS
PERSONAL FINANCE
NET WORTH
About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use DMCA Opt-out of personalized ads
© Copyright 2023 Market Realist. Market Realist is a registered trademark. All Rights Reserved. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.
MARKETREALIST.COM / NEWS

Nike Signs Caitlin Clark in a $28 Million Deal and Her Very Own Shoe

Legendary head coach Dawn Staley of South Carolina called her one of the greatest women's basketball players of all time.
PUBLISHED APR 23, 2024
Cover Image Source: Caitlin Clark warms up before a Basketball Tournament | Photo by Thien-An Truong/ISI Photos | Getty Images
Cover Image Source: Caitlin Clark warms up before a Basketball Tournament | Photo by Thien-An Truong/ISI Photos | Getty Images

The competition to sign Caitlin Clark for a shoe deal ended recently, and it looks like Nike won the race. They managed to sign her up, beating out Adidas, Under Armour, and Puma. Caitlin, a new player for the Indiana Fever team, is set to sign a contract with Nike for eight years, which could earn her up to $28 million. This deal started in 2022, even before Caitlin became famous for her incredible performance in the 2023 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament and her record-breaking season in 2023-24, where she made history by scoring more points than anyone ever before.

Image Source: : Caitlin Clark in the second half during the 2024 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament National Championship | Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images
Caitlin Clark in the second half during the 2024 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament National Championship | Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images

Not just a deal but her very own shoe!

Nike's contract with Caitlin was to end in 2024, which would make her a free agent. The Wall Street Journal says that Caitlin was offered an average salary of $3 million per year. But Nike upped the stakes by offering her $3.5 million per year. They're not just banking on Caitlin's success in women's sports in the U.S.; they're also looking ahead to big events like the Olympics in 2028 (in Los Angeles) and 2032 (in Brisbane, Australia), where Caitlin is expected to make a huge impact.

The offer from Nike didn't end there. Caitlin was also guaranteed her very own unique shoe! Under Armour made a concerted effort to enlist Caitlin as well. The Athletic said that Stephen Curry, a basketball player, was included in their proposal. The Journal claims that Under Armour offered Caitlin $16 million for a four-year contract, but it appears that Nike's offer was too good to refuse.

Image Source: Caitlin Clark arrives on the red carpet before the 2024 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament National Championship | Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Caitlin Clark arrives on the red carpet before the 2024 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament National Championship | Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

It's all in the numbers

In the draft that took place last Monday, the Fever chose Clark with the first overall pick. Nike even posted on X to congratulate her on her achievement. Even as Clark gets ready to make her WNBA debut, she has a substantial following base. She shocked the sports world that legendary head coach Dawn Staley of South Carolina called her one of the greatest women's basketball players of all time.

Clark's numbers tell the truth. When she was a Hawkeye, her average point total each game was 28.4. During her senior year, the 2023–2024 campaign, she excelled above expectations, averaging an incredible 31.6 points per game, 8.9 assists, and 7.4 rebounds.

Clark even created history when she surpassed Pete Maravich of LSU, a legendary player in men's collegiate basketball, to set the all-time scoring record. In addition to this accomplishment, she broke other records in the NCAA Tournament, giving her team a chance to compete for the national title before they were upset by the unbeaten South Carolina squad. Clark finished her undergraduate career with 3,951 points in total. She demonstrated her skill beyond the arc as well, making 548 three-pointers out of 1,452 attempts, good for an astounding 37.7% long-range success percentage.

Image Source: Caitlin Clark with game against South Carolina Gamecocks in the 2024 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament National Championship | Photo by Steph Chambers | Getty Images
Caitlin Clark with a game against South Carolina Gamecocks | Photo by Steph Chambers | Getty Images

Record viewership

The national title game drew 18.7 million viewers to ABC’s coverage with a peak of 24 million viewers during the game, per ESPN. That’s 89% higher than last season and 285% higher than the 2022 national championship game. This represents a startling 285% increase from the national championship game in 2022 and a significant 89% increase from the previous season.

MORE ON MARKET REALIST
Reports suggest that the anti-theft measures are causing hostility between shoppers and workers.
12 hours ago
Seemed like inflation has been eating into the nuggets sold by Walmart under Great Value.
13 hours ago
The entrepreneur shared that it was a habit of his to reward the people who worked hard for him.
1 day ago
Pointing at the shelf full of Great Value Orange Juice, the creator said that the brand is trying to fool people.
1 day ago
For the contestant named Linda, the deal was further sweetened as she got to meet a celebrity.
2 days ago
When it was her turn to play, Mama Doris went blank on the fifth answer costing her team.
2 days ago
She herself couldn't believe that she had come up with a solution that seemed impossible.
2 days ago
Carey called the aspiring actor a 'future star' while celebrating his win on the show.
2 days ago
Kimmel successfully bagged a multimillion dollar deal as well.
2 days ago
He got too close to the contestant but she played along while the audience laughed awkwardly.
3 days ago
The answer is one of the most absurd things that a contestant has said on the popular game show.
3 days ago
The farmer did admit that he could be biased in his explanation but made points many agreed with.
3 days ago
Fans joked that the host had a "senior" moment on the show while Carey also took it in a light-hearted way.
3 days ago
While Steve Harvey was eager to start the Fast Money round, the players were busy dancing.
4 days ago
The woman shared that one package had a single banana and an industrial size box of ramen.
4 days ago
Seasoned viewers took to the internet to call out the blunder while the woman seemed unaware.
4 days ago
His mother also joined him in celebration and walked right to the car.
4 days ago
Belz later said that nothing is as good as the win and it was his dream to be on the show.
5 days ago