In a recent interview with Fortune, Nike CEO Elliott Hill shared exciting developments regarding the collaboration with WNBA star Caitlin Clark. Hill revealed that Clark visited Nike’s headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon, earlier this month to advance the creation of her signature shoe and logo.
“We had Caitlin Clark today,” Hill told Fortune. “… We’re working on her signature shoe that will launch, and we’re working on her logo and that design.”
While Hill did not specify the launch date for Clark’s shoe or logo, the announcement underscores Nike’s commitment to expanding its portfolio of women’s basketball products. Clark, the 2024 No. 1 pick and WNBA Rookie of the Year, has been a Nike athlete throughout her college career. Following her draft in April 2024, she signed a new eight-year, $28 million deal with Nike, marking the largest sponsorship contract ever for a female basketball player.
“Having a small team that’s focused on women’s basketball, it unlocked, we believe, opportunities for the game of basketball and also in product,” Hill explained. “It becomes an opportunity to grow the overall marketplace by inviting more and more girls into the world of sports. It is an area we’ll continue to invest in with tremendous momentum right now.”
Clark’s partnership with Nike places her among an elite group of WNBA players with signature shoe deals. She joins Sabrina Ionescu of the New York Liberty and A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces as Nike’s flagship female basketball athletes. Ionescu launched her first signature shoe in September 2023, followed by the Sabrina 2 in June 2024. Wilson’s signature shoe is slated for release in 2025, seven years after her 2018 draft.
The enthusiasm surrounding Clark’s collaboration with Nike is evident on social media. A fan tweeted, “CAITLIN VISITING NIKE HEADQUARTERS I USED TO PRAY FOR TIMES LIKE THIS,” accompanied by a photo, highlighting the excitement within the basketball community.
Nike’s investment in women’s basketball extends beyond Clark. The New York Liberty’s Breanna Stewart also has a signature shoe with Puma, released in 2022, and Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese, from Clark’s 2024 draft class, is set to release her signature shoe with Reebok in 2026. These partnerships reflect a broader industry trend toward recognizing and supporting female athletes through personalized and high-performance gear.
Hill emphasized that Nike’s focus on women’s basketball not only enhances the brand’s product offerings but also plays a crucial role in promoting the sport to a wider audience. By developing signature shoes and logos for top female athletes, Nike aims to inspire the next generation of girls to engage in sports, fostering growth in the overall marketplace.
As Nike continues to build its portfolio of women’s basketball products, fans eagerly await the official launch of Caitlin Clark’s signature shoe and logo. This collaboration represents a significant step forward in Nike’s dedication to supporting and celebrating female athletes, paving the way for future innovations and partnerships in women’s sports.