Caitlin Clark 'to sign an eight

Release time：2024-05-08 21:12:54 Source：Global Glimmer news portal

Caitlin Clark is on the cusp of breaking another record as the former Iowa star is set to sign a historic deal with Nike.

On Tuesday, the Wall Street Journal and The Athletic reported a pending eight-year, $28million contract, including a signature shoe. The deal would give Clark the richest sponsorship contract for a women's basketball player.

The Athletic and WSJ cited unnamed sources familiar with the negotiations between Nike and the NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer, who recently became the first overall pick of the WNBA Draft.

Excel Sports Management, which represents Clark, and Nike did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press.

Clark's initial name, image and likeness deal, signed in 2022, expired at the end of the 2023-24 season.

Caitlin Clark is set to sign an eight-year, $28 million contract with Nike, per The Athletic 

Clark's deal would be the richest sponsorship contract for a women's basketball player

Under Armour and Adidas also participated in contract discussions with Clark's team in February, according to the WSJ and The Athletic. Puma also showed some interest but walked away when told the bidding would start at $3 million per year, according to the WSJ.

Clark received offers of $16 million over four years from Under Armour and $6 million over four years from Adidas, with both including a signature shoe, according to the WSJ.

Clark earned about $3 million in NIL money at Iowa with deals she has had with State Farm, Gatorade and others, according to the WSJ.

Clark's agents were working on the new Nike contract even before she announced she would turn pro instead of return to Iowa for a fifth season under the COVID-19 exemption offered to players in college during the 2020 pandemic season.

After averaging 31.6 points and leading the Hawkeyes to a second straight national championship game, Clark was drafted No. 1 by the Indiana Fever on April 15.

On April 15, the Indiana Fever drafted Clark with the first overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft

In her last two years, Clark led the Iowa Hawkeyes to consecutive title game appearances 

The new lucrative contract will boost an already existing deal between Clark and Nike 

She'll earn a $76,000 salary as a rookie. She's been the main driver for the dramatic uptick in women's basketball interest with her mix of deep 3-point shots, flashy thread-the-needle passes and overall court presence. A women's basketball record of 18.9 million watched Iowa's loss to South Carolina in the NCAA title game, and a WNBA-record 2.45 million watched the draft.

Of the Fever´s 40 games this season, 36 will be nationally televised, and ticket sales have skyrocketed around the league.

Clark's marketability is enhanced by her polished performances in media settings, and her surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live two weeks ago was widely acclaimed and exposed her to an even wider audience.

The reported eight-year contract with Nike shows the sportswear giant's commitment. At 22, Clark could play well over a decade in the WNBA and she could be on the U.S. roster for the Olympics in Paris this year, in Los Angeles in 2028 and Brisbane, Australia, in 2032.

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