CAITLIN Clark’s new Kobe Bryant-inspired venture has already proved a massive success.
The WNBA superstar is the biggest commercial draw in the game.
Caitlin Clark’s sneakers inspired by Kobe Bryant sold out in a matter of seconds[/caption]
Clark has been largely responsible for the surge in interest in women’s basketball[/caption]
And Clark, 23, has cashed in with her latest link-up.
The Indiana Fever star is one of Nike’s biggest ambassadors.
She appeared in the company’s first Super Bowl commercial since 1998.
This weekend, Nike revealed a new sneaker collaboration in an epic teaser.
It featured Clark showcasing her skills on the court before turning to look at the camera while sat in the locker room.
Her eye then resembled one of a snake.
The reference was to basketball icon Kobe Bryant, who gave himself the nickname “Black Mamba.”
“When Caitlin Clark laces her new Kobe 5 Protro PE she steps into a new dimension,” Nike wrote.
“Noise fades, focus hits, and all that’s left is her drive to dominate.
“Available 6.30 on SNKRS in select regions.”
But the sneakers sold out in a matter of seconds Monday.
They retailed at $190 but were already being sold on the second-hand market for more than $400.
Fans have now called for Clark to receive her own signature shoe.
She has been largely responsible for the boom in interest in women’s basketball.
One said, “Imagine if it was her own shoe and design.”
While another commented, “Why not her own logo and shoe?”
She led the Iowa Hawkeyes to the Big Ten Championship in March 2024.
And Clark recreated an iconic locker room photo of Bryant after he won the 2001 NBA Championship with the Los Angeles Lakers.
“I think it’s an opportunity to pay homage to one of the greatest basketball players of all time, and Kobe was also a huge supporter of women’s sports and women’s basketball specifically,” photographer Bri Lewerke told ESPN.
“That tie in there is really special.”
