Aces owner questions Caitlin Clark’s $20 million Nike deal after investigation on his franchise

Las Vegas Aces owner Mark Davis has questioned why the WNBA is investigating his players' $100,000 sponsorship deals, but not Caitlin Clark's historic contract with Nike.

The Aces grabbed headlines when the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCA) led by CEO Steve Hill told the players that each of them would receive $100,000 as sponsorship. The catch was quite simple as all the athletes had to do was play basketball.

The news was appreciated by many, with some urging other groups to show the same generosity to WNBA teams in their cities. The league, though, raised an eyebrow and investigated the Las Vegas tourism body’s sponsorship for the players.

Marc Davis had this to say in an interview with CBS Sports:

“Absolutely nothing wrong was done and I think it’s sad that they used the word investigation instead of saying something softer, ‘Hey, we can look into it,’ or something like that. But, they’re going to find out that there’s nothing to worry about.

"Nike is an owner of the WNBA and they're allowed to sponsor Caitlin Clark for $28 million on one player. And nobody's complaining or investigating. And I think it's great that Nike's doing that. But let's give credit to where credit's due: Las Vegas Convention Authority is stepping up and recognizing these women," Davis added.

Caitlin Clark will reportedly sign an eight-year, $28 million shoe deal with Nike that is supposed to include her line of sneakers. The Fever rookie isn’t just settling with the giant shoe brand as she is also partnering with Wilson Sporting Goods Co. and other brands.

Meanwhile, the sponsorship Steve Hill offered was a game-changer for many on Las Vegas’ roster. Out of the 12 players signed, only Kelsey Plum and A’ja Wilson breached the $200K mark. Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Alysha Clark, and Kia Stokes are paid over $100K. Megan Gustafson is on the books for $94K while the rest earn $76K and lower.

The Aces are two-time defending champs but they have taken a backseat to the Indiana Fever due to Caitlin Clark’s arrival in the WNBA. The Fever made the former Iowa superstar the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft and she has promptly put the limelight on her team. One proof of that is Indiana’s 36 nationally televised games out of 40 compared to the Aces' 35.

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A’ja Wilson doesn’t understand why the Aces are under investigation

Following the Las Vegas Aces’ 89-82 win over the LA Sparks, A’ja Wilson was asked to comment about the WNBA’s investigation into her team. At that time, the reigning Finals MVP told reporters that she only heard about the situation in the news. She did add that what the LVCA was doing was natural for a sport that was rapidly growing.

Wilson said the announcement was made in the locker room so every player on the roster could enjoy the moment. She added:

"I don't understand the investigation; I haven't dived into it yet. I just looked at my phone [after the game] and was like, 'Oh, wow, just another day in the life of the Aces.' We can't ever start just normal, it's always going to be something, and that's OK."

The WNBA will likely announce the result of its investigation soon. But if Marc Davis is to be believed, the players should have nothing to worry about as the sponsorship was transparent.

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