After a long wait, Nike announced on Wednesday that Caitlin Clark’s signature shoe, the Caitlin 1, will drop on October 1. The Swoosh hyped the upcoming release further by revealing the sharp blue colorway that will arrive this fall.
Amid the hoopla following the news and the anticipated ramping up of excitement among sneaker fanatics, the legendary former sports marketing executive Sonny Vaccaro couldn’t hold back from blasting Nike.
Why Sonny Vaccaro Called Out Nike’s Handling of Caitlin Clark
Clark first signed a name, image, and likeness (NIL) deal with the Beaverton, Oregon-based company in 2022, before the start of her junior year with the Iowa Hawkeyes. In early April 2024, she agreed to a new eight-year, $28 million deal.
Most sports observers predicted the brand to capitalize on her status as one of basketball’s hottest and most popular figures just as she entered her first season in the WNBA.
Coming to a logo near you. Introducing the Caitlin 1. pic.twitter.com/FjbcquBA7L
— Nike Basketball (@nikebasketball) June 17, 2026
Instead, the contrary happened, prompting Vaccaro to rip Nike.
“It is one of the biggest failures I’ve ever seen,” according to Vaccaro, via a report from Dan Wetzel on Wednesday.
The retired sports marketing guru added, “She was bigger (than Jordan) in some ways because she was a known commodity when she entered the WNBA. The public grabbed onto her like no one else. She is more than just a basketball player. It makes no sense.”
Wetzel himself noted how Nike treated Clark: “For more than 3 ½ years, though, Nike has mostly kept Clark on the shelf, even as she developed into one of the most popular and marketable athletes in the country.”
In Wetzel’s article, he singled out the “From Anywhere” ad as the only commercial from the brand that highlighted the Indiana Fever guard.
This comes despite Clark forcing some opposing teams to change venues to accommodate hordes of fans who wanted to see her and the Fever in action. The 6-foot guard has also been arguably the biggest reason for the Fever and the league’s attendance and ratings turnaround.
Vaccaro wasn’t the only one who called out Nike for the seemingly blatant underappreciation and undervaluation of the two-time WNBA All-Star.
Clark’s boyfriend, Connor McCaffery, couldn’t hold back in May 2025 when she returned to Iowa for the first time since turning pro.
In a preseason game against Brazil before a packed Carver-Hawkeye Arena, the brand failed to drum up excitement for her or highlight her, unlike other companies Clark endorsed. McCaffery ripped The Swoosh: “@Nike, Yall don’t got internet or what?”
Clark remains ubiquitous. She is a staple in commercials, appeared as a guest commentator for NBC Sports to cover the NBA, and is still one of the WNBA’s biggest draws.
Following the latest on the release of Clark’s signature shoe, Nike may have finally caught on to something basketball observers have known for a long time.
