Caitlin Clark inks historic deal with Wilson, will get first signature basketball collection since Michael Jordan
Caitlin Clark is adding another historic endorsement deal to her portfolio.
The Indiana Fever guard agreed to a multi-year partnership with Wilson and will receive a signature basketball collection – becoming the first player to do so since Michael Jordan. The collection will honor Clark’s impact on women’s basketball as she became the face of the game at Iowa before becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA Draft.
Wilson will also support the Caitlin Clark Foundation as part of the deal, which is the latest high-profile agreement for the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer.
“Wilson is made to celebrate the most iconic moments in sport, and we have always aligned ourselves with trailblazers who break boundaries and write their own story,” said Amanda Lamb, Wilson’s Head of Global Brand, in a statement. “Caitlin Clark is not just a record-setting athlete, but a cultural icon who has had a profound impact on the game. We couldn’t be prouder to join forces with her to continue innovating basketball both on and off the court.”
Wilson is the official game ball provider of the WNBA and NCAA, meaning Clark has had one of its basketballs in her hand for most of her career. She noted that in her statement, adding she hopes to continue growing the game through the deal.
“Wilson has been with me across some of the most pivotal moments in my career so far, and I couldn’t be more excited to continue driving basketball forward alongside them,” Clark said. “It feels surreal to have my own basketball collection, and to affect what that means for future generations of athletes.”
Caitlin Clark continues to capitalize in the WNBA
Clark’s deal with Wilson is yet another notable partnership since arriving in the WNBA. Nike struck quickly after the Fever selected her with the top pick last month as the two sides agreed to a lucrative eight-year, $28 million deal, according to the Wall Street Journal. Clark will also get her first signature shoe.
Gatorade is also continuing its relationship with Clark in the W. Ahead of her home debut at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the company debuted a 150-foot billboard in Indianapolis to celebrate the occasion and the beginning of her professional career.
Clark was also one of a handful of top WNBA Draft picks to receive an official trading card from Panini America late last month. She joined Cameron Brink, Kamilla Cardoso, Angel Reese and Nika Muhl, among others, in the partnership.
NIL success prepared Caitlin Clark for WNBA spotlight
Clark put together an impressive NIL portfolio during her time at Iowa, and most of her agreements can continue as she begins her WNBA career. While some argued she effectively took a “pay cut” by going to the W with a $76,000 salary as a rookie, that’s not necessarily the case. She didn’t take any money from the Iowa-focused Swarm Collective – meaning she only had NIL deals with outside organizations and companies.
Clark notably inked partnerships with Xfinity and State Farm as part of her lengthy portfolio. She later added a partnership with Gainbridge, which owns the naming rights to the Fever’s arena, and signed on with Excel Sports Management to represent her in the WNBA.
Those agreements helped make her the face of college basketball. She left Iowa with an On3 NIL Valuation of over $3 million.