Is Caitlin Clark really mad about Nike's focus on A'ja Wilson?

At long last Nike debuted the Pink A'ura, the first colorway in A'ja Wilson's signature shoe line, on Tuesday, May 6. The news was welcomed by fans of the Las Vegas center, who first struck the shoe deal two years ago.

But there are grumblings online among Caitlin Clark's fans, who feel the brand is putting too much emphasis on Wilson over Clark. On May 7 Ethan Strauss insisted Nike is "still ignoring Caitlin Clark and destroying shareholder value" in a lengthy piece shared on his Substack, House of Strauss. Those are weighty allegations — but are they grounded in the truth?

More: Caitlin Clark called out by opponent for latest social media post

Clark signed her deal with Nike soon after she was drafted in April 2024, which guaranteed her an 8-figure payout and a signature shoe – the deal is worth up to $28 million over 8 years. The deal continued the relationship Nike and Clark struck while the hooper was still in college.

Nike and Wilson struck their own deal for a signature shoe in early 2023. Shoes take time — as mentioned, Wilson's took two years to go from contract to concept to creation to selling out in under five minutes. Wilson signed a 6-year deal with Nike in December 2024, continuing her long-standing relationship with the brand.

Fans of Clark are known for being ...energetic... when it comes to supporting their favorite basketball star, but in this case, it would be a good time to sit down and let the process unfold. Just like Wilson, Clark will have to go through a similar two-year process for her own shoe to see the light of day. And just like Wilson, at that point Clark will be a veteran of the league and will have earned her right to be celebrated appropriately.

Perhaps no one is more aware of how important A'ja Wilson is to women's basketball than Caitlin Clark — which is likely the reason she isn't saying anything at all. If Clark has proven one thing time and time again since she's been drafted, it's that she supports everyone in the league – everything else is just noise.