To restore sanity in America, we need to address a major issue that’s being overlooked. One of the most significant sports stories is unfolding before our eyes. Caitlyn Clark, a rising star in basketball, hasn’t appeared in a Nike ad since turning pro.
Instead, tennis legend Billie Jean King, an Adidas ambassador, recently praised Clark—not for Nike, but for Adidas. Why is she celebrating a Nike athlete? Clark signed an 8-year, $28 million contract with Nike, but since April, the brand has been silent about her achievements.
Clark isn’t just a good player—she’s making history. She set a WNBA single-season record for assists, broke the rookie scoring record, and became the first rookie to record a triple-double. She’s redefining the game, yet Nike hasn’t celebrated her in the way fans expected.
Fans are frustrated. Where’s the Clark merchandise? Where are the ads? Social media is filled with complaints, and Nike’s silence is deafening. What’s even stranger is Adidas stepping up to praise Clark while Nike ignores her.
Billie Jean King even called her a generational talent. It’s like Pepsi congratulating Coca-Cola—it just doesn’t happen. So, what’s going on? Nike’s stock is down, and they’re making changes internally, but ignoring a talent like Clark doesn’t make sense.
Adidas, on the other hand, is positioning itself as a brand that supports women’s sports seriously. Fans are taking notice, and many are questioning their loyalty to Nike.
This is about more than just one athlete—it’s a turning point in how we view sponsorship in women’s sports. Brands need to do more than sign athletes; they need to actively promote them. When they don’t, fans are ready to switch sides.
Caitlyn Clark’s rookie season was historic, but Nike stayed quiet. Adidas unexpectedly jumped in to give her the recognition she deserves. Now, fans are speaking up, demanding more support and publicity for female athletes.
Clark is going to the Annika in November, the penultimate tournament on the LPGA Tour schedule, hosted by Annika Sörenstam, to play in the Pro-Am and be a panelist at the Women’s Leadership Summit at Pelican Golf Club.
Clark, the WNBA Rookie of the Year, said last month when the Indiana Fever was eliminated that she planned to play golf until it got too cold in Indiana, and added with a smile, “become a professional golfer.”
