Caitlin Clark, the rising star in basketball, is already making waves even before her professional debut, aiming to set records both on and off the court.
Amid discussions on salary disparities between NBA and WNBA players, Clark’s sights are set beyond her WNBA income as she reportedly seals a groundbreaking deal with Nike, marking one of the largest rookie endorsements in history.
Her contract with Nike spans four years, amounting to $338,056, granting her an impressive rookie-year income of $76,535. However, it’s her staggering eight-figure deal with Nike that’s capturing attention.
Details of this monumental partnership, recently disclosed by Shams Charania of The Athletic, shed light on Clark’s remarkable off-court prowess.
Charania revealed, “It’s eight figures, they told me. I said that as I hurried back. My major is not in math. That’s a minimum of $10 million. It’s well over $10 million, I was told. I believe it’s reasonable to state that it exceeds $20 million.”
Nike, Under Armour, and Adidas vied for Clark’s endorsement, with NBA star Stephen Curry even joining Under Armour talks via Facetime, adding an intriguing twist to the negotiations.
If the speculated $20 million Nike deal materializes, Clark would boast the third-largest sneaker endorsement in basketball, trailing only LeBron James and Kevin Durant.
Comparing Caitlin Clark’s Nike deal with LeBron and KD’s
James and Durant, both tied to Nike with lifetime contracts, secured monumental deals upon entering the league, setting the benchmark for athlete endorsements.
LeBron James inked a seven-year, $90 million deal with Nike upon his NBA debut, later securing a groundbreaking lifetime agreement with Nike valued at around $1 billion.
Kevin Durant’s Nike lifetime deal, estimated at $300 million, caused ripples in the NBA, with Nike matching Under Armour’s lucrative offer to retain Durant’s allegiance.
Reports suggest Durant earned nearly $30 million annually from Nike in 2015, positioning Clark’s $20 million Nike deal as a significant milestone, solidifying her impact in the sneaker industry.
As Clark transitions from collegiate stardom to the professional ranks, her multi-million-dollar endorsement with Nike signals a promising journey ahead, both on and off the court.