Wetzel: Caitlin Clark's shoe is here. What took Nike so long? - ESPN

Nike released the first images of Caitlin Clark's signature shoe, the Caitlin 1, on Wednesday. It features a sharp blue color scheme with «new performance technology designed to reduce drag and enhance movement efficiency.»

The shoes and accompanying 18-piece apparel line will go on sale Oct. 1, but could be first worn by Clark as soon as Thursday's Indiana Fever game.

Coming to a logo near you. Introducing the Caitlin 1. pic.twitter.com/FjbcquBA7L

It marks the start of a major product and promotional push around the third-year WNBA star — designed to spur sales and invigorate Nike while elevating Clark to even greater heights.

«What excites me most is what this can mean for the next generation,» Clark said in a statement. «If it inspires even one kid to work harder or fall in love with the game, that's what makes it special.»

This is expected to be successful. Still, one question persists.

What the heck took so long?

Nike first signed Clark to a name, image and likeness deal in October 2022 — before her junior season at the University of Iowa. The two agreed to a fresh eight-year, $28 million contract in April 2024, as Clark entered the WNBA.

For more than 3½ 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.

There was just a single, national standalone Nike commercial — her «From Anywhere» campaign — and no signature shoes or apparel, apart from a few T-shirts and pullovers. Branding efforts were minimal, with relatively few promotional efforts or in-store signage to pair Clark to the swoosh. She even received sparse treatment on both the Nike and Nike Basketball social media accounts — prior to the shoe release, just three