Some stars are like supernovas—fiery bursts of brilliance that light up the sky, only to vanish into the night as swiftly as they appeared. Number one draft picks are often expected to ignite the league, but too many end up as little more than fires warming the bench.

Caitlin Clark, however, is more like a comet—her impact seemed inevitable, and her arrival in the WNBA came with hype akin to LeBron James’s. From what we’ve seen so far, her star is truly transcendent. Arguably the greatest women’s NCAA player ever, Clark has already left her mark on the WNBA by breaking several records in just her rookie season:

The single-season rookie scoring record (769 points), the most games with 25+ points and 10+ assists in just 42 games, and the single-season assists record (337), among many others.

In tandem with these events, Sabrina Ionescu’s Nike signature line has reached ubiquity hitherto unseen for a women-led collection. NBA All-Stars such as Jrue Holiday, Tyler Herro, and Jalen Brunson have become advocates for the shoe, making an impact both on hardwood and concrete courts around the world. Clark herself has worn a Nike Sabrina 1 into battle.

With Clark now adjacent to Ionescu on Nike’s marquee roster, it’s only a matter of time before we see the Nike Caitlin Clark signature line. Yet, her shoe game has already drawn nearly as much scrutiny as her actual game. Her impact and influence are evident, fueling increased activity in secondary markets.

Her Nike Kobe 5 Protro “Bruce Lee” and its ALT variant—which she calls her “babies”, her “magic shoes”, having “[worn] them in almost every big game in college”—saw a 223% surge in resale value following her 2023 NCAA championship run.

Throughout her college and professional career, Clark has been spotted in a range of rare Nike sneakers—some so exclusive they could rival the collection of PJ Tucker, the NBA’s nonpareil sneaker connoisseur. Thus, with the imminent arrival of the Caitlin Clark x Nike Kobe 5 Protro “Indiana Fever”, initially a PE, let’s take a look at the best Caitlin Clark shoes so far.

Despite the cultural cachet she’s been building up, Nike has opted to hold off on releasing her signature line until the 2026–2027 season, citing the “delicate craft” of shoe development.

However, reports and fan discussions highlight speculation that the delay may relate to broader corporate strategies and sensitivities, especially given her reported US$28 million Nike deal and its comparison to deals for established WNBA stars like A’ja Wilson. Nevertheless, these are primarily inferences and opinions from industry analysts and fans, rather than official Nike statements.

Till then, she’s doing just fine being the WNBA’s de facto face of the Nike Kobe line.

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