WNBA star Angel Reese has ignited a firestorm after calling for a boycott of Nike, following the brand’s decision to sign Caitlin Clark to a lucrative $28 million deal and prominently feature her in a Chicago advertisement. The move has sparked heated debate among basketball fans, with many of Reese’s supporters accusing Nike of overlooking her contributions to the game.
A Controversial Endorsement Deal
Nike’s endorsement deal with Clark, a standout guard and one of the most marketable young players in basketball, is reportedly one of the most lucrative rookie shoe contracts in WNBA history. While Clark’s talent and popularity are undeniable, the announcement has struck a nerve with Reese’s fanbase, who feel the LSU champion has been unfairly sidelined.
As of October 2024, WNBA star Angel Reese has amassed a substantial following on social media platforms, with 4.4 million followers on Instagram and 4.6 million on TikTok.
This significant online presence has enabled her to secure lucrative endorsement deals, earning approximately $1.7 million from sponsorships over the past two years. Her fans, often referred to as “Reese’s Pieces,”contribute to her widespread popularity and influence both on and off the basketball court.
Reese, known for her dominance on the court and outspoken personality, took to social media to express her frustration. In a series of posts, she called out Nike for what she perceived as a lack of recognition and support for her own career. The final straw appeared to be a large Nike poster featuring Clark in Chicago—a city with deep ties to Reese’s fanbase.
Reese Speaks Out
“Y’all see what’s going on,” Reese wrote in a viral post. “They make it clear who they want to push. Keep that same energy when we stop supporting.”
Reese’s call for a boycott quickly gained traction, with fans and fellow athletes weighing in. Many pointed to the long-standing issues of race and marketability in women’s sports, arguing that Black female athletes are often overlooked in major endorsement deals. Others defended Nike’s decision, emphasizing Clark’s record-breaking performances and massive appeal.
The controversy has reignited discussions about how brands choose to market women’s basketball stars. Some argue that Clark, a white athlete with a flashy play style and strong media presence, benefits from the same biases that have historically limited endorsement opportunities for Black women in sports.
Reese, who has embraced her role as a vocal advocate for change, has previously spoken about the challenges of breaking into mainstream endorsement deals despite her success on the court. In 2023, she secured a number of high-profile NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals while playing at LSU, but her fans believe she deserves even greater recognition at the professional level.
‘Unnecessary and embarrassing’ – Nike provoke Angel Reese fans with $28 million Caitlin Clark campaign
Nike have entered enemy territory.
The shoe-giants unveiled its latest Caitlin Clark campaign and the location of one its billboard has caused controversy on social media.
Billboards of Clark have been placed in ChicagoCredit: @ericaf455 via X
Fans have to wait a while for the first big Clark Nike campaign since the WNBA star signed a eight-year $28 million contract with $108 billion company in April 2024.
So with the growth of women’s basketball over the last year, Nike have now capitalised on Clark’s marketability by using her in their latest campaign.
The Oregon based company broke a 27-year hiatus from the Super Bowl ads by airing a commercial staring the Fever guard during the event.
Nike last aired a Super Bowl ad in 1998, featuring San Antonio Spurs center David Robinson and other athletes playing sports in the nude.
Following up on their Super Bowl ads, Nike have also placed billboards in cities across America.
One billboard is in Chicago at 157 W. Chicago Ave, the ad is 3½ miles away from Wintrust Arena, home to the Chicago Sky and Clark’s rival, Angel Reese.
The placement of the campaign has sparked reaction from fans as it is one thing it being in Chicago but it has taken up real estate just minutes away from where Reese will play basketball later this year.
“Unnecessary and embarrassing,” one fan wrote on X, not happy with Nike’s provocative decision.
“In Chicago… Trying to step on some toes in somebody else’s turf??” another fan posted on X.
Clark and Reese’s rivalry sparked when they first met in the 2023 NCAA women’s basketball championship.
Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have enjoyed a rivalry that stretches back to their college daysCredit: GETTY
Reese and Clark have taken the WNBA to new heightsCredit: Getty
Reese mocked Clark at the end of that game when her LSU Tigers defeated Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes for the title, taunting her by pointing to her finger to remind her who was getting a ring.
Since the pair has been the main driver for the dramatic uptick in the WNBA, with the league enjoying a record-breaking season in 2024 after they were was drafted in April.
Regular-season attendance for the league is up by 48 percent and viewership on ESPN up by 170 percent.
31 WNBA matches last season averaged over one million viewers and 22 of them involved Clark, with almost every fixture she played in being broadcast on national television.
The 23-year-old’s own team, the Fever, saw their attendance rise by 320 percent to a league-leading average of 17,000 per game.
Clark and Reese’s four matchups last year in the league demonstrated the tense rivalry as it included a series of controversial flagrant fouls involving the pair.
The two superstars will renew their battles on opening weekend of the league when Reese’s Chicago Sky take on Clark’s Indiana Fever on May 17.
