- Author, Brandon Drenon
- Role, BBC News
Women’s basketball superstar Caitlin Clark has signed a sponsorship deal with American sporting goods company Wilson, a move not seen since Michael Jordan.
The company is launching an iconic collection of items featuring Clark, including limited edition basketballs.
Jordan, an NBA legend, was the last athlete to make such a deal with Wilson.
The arrangement adds to a growing list of sponsorships landed by Clark, who has become one of the biggest names in American sports.
Through this multi-year sponsorship agreement, Clark will become a brand ambassador and launch additional merchandise with Wilson, a century-old sporting goods brand.
“Wilson has been with me through some of the most pivotal moments of my career thus far,” Clark said in a press release.
“I couldn’t be more excited to continue to grow the game of basketball alongside them. It’s surreal to have my own basketball collection.”
Clark also has sponsorship deals with sports brand Nike, sports drink brand Gatorade, insurance company State Farm and more.
The 22-year-old entered the professional league this year as the No. 1 overall pick, joining the WNBA’s Indiana Fever after a prolific college career at the University of Iowa.
As a college athlete, she rose to fame by breaking dozens of basketball records and creating an international fan base that now has more than two million followers on Instagram.
Her influence on the game has been dubbed the Caitlin Clark effect.
Among the collegiate records Clark broke was the most three-pointers made in a single season, a record previously held by the NBA’s Steph Curry.
As part of the deal, Wilson will release three limited-edition white and gold basketballs featuring Clark, commemorating her first season in the WNBA.
One of them shows her in a pose she often takes after making her long-range shot.
Despite his success off the field, Clark’s professional debut got off to a rocky start.
Clark’s Indiana Fever has no wins and four losses this season, although she is the team’s leading scorer, averaging 17 points per game.
News Source : www.bbc.com
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