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The start to Caitlin Clark‘s much-hyped WNBA career has not exactly gone according to plan.
But that hasn’t caused the former Iowa Hawkeyes star to become any less popular.
On Tuesday, she became the first athlete (in any sport) since Michael Jordan to agree to a sponsorship deal with sporting goods and apparel brand Wilson.
NEWS: Caitlin Clark has signed a multi-year partnership deal with Wilson.
Clark will get a signature basketball collection with Wilson—making her the first athlete since Michael Jordan to do so with the brand. pic.twitter.com/c4G7iNnhIv
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) May 21, 2024
In fact, Jordan is the only athlete to ever have a deal with the company other than Clark.
Clark told Boardroom that the deal with Wilson is special to her as she grew up shooting a basketball from the company.
“I loved that thing more than anything. My brothers and I would always fight over it,” she said. “That was the best basketball. But I’m just super excited to have a collaboration and create basketballs together that are really cool. I’ve seen the designs that young girls, boys, whoever can get their hands on and go dribble in the driveway or take it to practice with them.”
Wilson is the official supplier of basketballs for both the NBA and the WNBA.
The first collaboration between Clark and the company features the brand’s white and gold WNBA basketball with personalized laser engravings celebrating some of Clark’s most famous moments.
I think it is super special, and it’s been fun for me,” Clark said. “I feel like I was just that young kid who had those basketballs that I would store in the garage. I’m just very lucky and fortunate to partner with Wilson to create something that everyone can enjoy.”
Clark’s early WNBA career has been a struggle. She and the Indiana Fever are 0-4 and Clark leads the league in turnovers with 6.5 per game.
But Wilson is banking on the fact that the young superstar will turn things around and create even more highlight reel moments in the years to come.