Indiana Fever’s No. 1 pick Caitlin Clark to launch her Nike signature shoe and bags eight-figure endorsement deal — reports

Caitlin Clark continues to take the basketball world by storm. Reports on Wednesday indicated that the women’s basketball superstar is set to have her own signature shoe released by Nike after inking a big endorsement deal with the brand.

According to a report by The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Mike Vorkunov, Clark will sign a lucrative endorsement deal with Nike, and although the exact figures were not disclosed, it is expected to reach eight figures.

Clark, who was the No. 1 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, has been a Nike athlete, but her contract expired after the college basketball season. Her signing as a sneaker free agent comes as no surprise, as she was the most sought-after prospect in this year's WNBA draft class.

According to Charania and Vorkunov, Clark had also met with Under Armour and Adidas, with Stephen Curry participating in Under Armour's pitching process.

Her offensive skills and ability to draw attention to women's basketball have made her a household name. Her impact on the women's basketball scene was evident during the 2024 WNBA Draft, where a record-high 2.4 million viewers tuned in, quadrupling last season's viewership.

Her presence has helped boost TV ratings for women's basketball, particularly during the women's March Madness tournament, which saw all-time high ratings.

The Indiana Fever selected Caitlin Clark with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft after an impressive college career during which she notched averages of 31.6 points and 8.9 assists per game.

A two-time national player of the year, Clark was the first Iowa Hawkeyes player to be selected with the top pick in either the NBA or the WNBA.

Caitlin Clark’s WNBA rookie contract isn’t lucrative

Despite signing a lucrative endorsement deal with Nike, Caitlin Clark's WNBA contract is not as high as expected for such a high-profile player. As a rookie, she will earn $76,535 in base salary this year as part of a four-year contract totaling $338,056.

While her WNBA salary is relatively low, Clark stands to earn significantly from endorsement deals, including partnerships with Gatorade, Buick and State Farm, which were estimated to be valued at $3.1 million before the new Nike deal.

Her popularity is further evident in her jersey sales, which sold out within hours of her being drafted.

The Indiana Fever, Clark's new team, has been scheduled for 36 nationally televised games this season, the most of any team, highlighting her appeal and marketability.