Before even stepping onto the professional basketball courts, Caitlin Clark is already causing a stir on the internet, with ambitions set on shattering records. While much attention has been focused on the pay disparities between NBA and WNBA players after the draft, Clark isn’t solely reliant on her WNBA earnings; reports suggest she has secured a substantial contract with Nike, one of the most lucrative ever for a newcomer.

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Clark has signed a four-year deal valued at $338,056, providing her with a rookie-season income of $76,535. Yet, it’s her multimillion-dollar agreement with Nike that is anticipated to be truly staggering. Recently disclosed by Shams Charania of The Athletic, the specifics of this Nike.

He said, “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.

The NBA insider disclosed that Nike, Under Armour, and Adidas vied for Caitlin Clark’s endorsement. During discussions with Under Armour, NBA star Stephen Curry from the Golden State Warriors joined via Facetime, adding an intriguing element to the negotiations.

If the speculated $20 million contract with Caitlin Clark materializes, she would secure the third-largest sneaker deal in basketball, trailing only LeBron James and Kevin Durant. Among active players, only James and Durant boast larger sneaker deals in the ballpark of this amount.

Comparing Caitlin Clark’s Nike deal with LeBron and KD’s
LeBron James and Kevin Durant both have lifetime contracts with Nike. When LeBron entered the NBA, he signed a seven-year deal with Nike valued at $90 million. Later, in 2015, he secured a significant lifetime pact with Nike worth approximately $1 billion.

Kevin Durant’s Nike lifetime agreement stirred up NBA circles and is estimated to be valued at $300 million. Under Armour had proposed over $270 million, but Nike matched it due to their matching rights. Reports suggest Durant earned nearly $30 million annually from Nike in 2015. This places Caitlin Clark’s $20 million deal with Nike behind these basketball legends.

Following the conclusion of her college Nike NIL deal, there were discussions about Nike continuing to collaborate with Caitlin Clark. Clark herself hinted at this by donning Nike attire at various events. Her recent $20 million-plus endorsement deal for signature shoes with Nike is poised to cement her influence in the sneaker industry.