Caitlin Clark Launches First Signature Nike Sneaker, 'Caitlin 1

WHO:

ESPN - Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever superstar, announced her first signature shoe.

ESPN - Clark becomes the fifth active WNBA player to have her own signature shoe, joining Angel Reese, Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, and A'ja Wilson.

Newsweek - Travis Scott assisted in the reveal of the 'Caitlin 1' Nike signature shoe.

WHAT:

IndyStar - The first colorway available for the 'Caitlin 1' will be “Racer Blue,” with prices set at $140 for adults, $115 for big kids, and $105 for youth sizes.

ESPN - The 'Caitlin 1' utilizes a new "Nike Opticast" upper designed to reduce drag and enhance on-court movement efficiency, inspired by the ripple of the three-point arc.

IndyStar - Clark stated, “I loved wearing whatever Nike shoe it was growing up. I remember my first pair of Jordans, pink Jordans that I had, and I remember my very first pink pair of Nike basketball shoes.”

IndyStar - Clark mentioned, “It’s been amazing... I feel like I really challenged Nike to make it something that I’m going to be super, super proud of, and I think the world will really love it and want to chase after.”

ESPN - Clark stated, "I got really crazy and expressive with the colors, and I think that kind of speaks to my love for inspiring the next generation and how they love to express themselves."

ESPN - The shoe's design includes stacked Swooshes that mimic her initials, and nodes on the outside of the foot are made of C's while the inside is made with 2's, representing her jersey No. 22.

ESPN - The shoe will be part of an 18-piece apparel line that includes jackets, T-shirts, and graphic hoodies.

ESPN - Clark's Instagram name and profile were changed to tease the upcoming shoe, including a bracelet that read "10-01-26" before a game.

ESPN - The shoe's design includes messages underfoot such as "It was never a long shot."

ESPN - Clark stated, "There's a lot of different Easter eggs all over the shoes that people can search through the shoe and kind of find."

Fox News - The shoe is named 'Caitlin 1' and is expected to release on October 1 at a price of $140 in North America and $135 for the rest of the world.

ESPN - Clark described the shoe launch as akin to a "debut album" and expressed her desire for it to be "killer."

ESPN - The shoe features Clark's interlocking CC logo and includes hidden Easter eggs.

ESPN - The 'Caitlin 1' utilizes new "Nike Opticast" technology designed to enhance on-court movement.

ESPN - The shoe will have multiple colorways and is part of an 18-piece apparel line aimed at both athletic performance and everyday style.

WHERE:

ESPN - The announcement took place in Indianapolis.

WHEN:

Fox News - The 'Caitlin 1' is set to release on October 1, 2026.

WHY:

ESPN - Clark noted that her long-standing commitment to playing in Kobe Bryant's sneaker line was coming to an end, prompting the launch of her own shoe.

ESPN - Clark's long-standing commitment to playing in Kobe Bryant's sneaker line was coming to an end, prompting the launch of her own shoe.

ESPN - Clark aimed to create a shoe that looked different from existing options while also being comfortable for wear.

HOW:

IndyStar - Clark made multiple trips to Nike HQ in Portland over the last two years to work on her shoe.

ESPN - Clark was actively involved in the creation of the shoe, including making mood boards in the Nike lab and incorporating personal details into the design.

ESPN - Clark was involved in making mood boards in the Nike lab and included a variety of personal Easter eggs throughout the shoe.

ESPN - Clark was actively involved in the shoe's creation, including making mood boards and incorporating personal details into the design.

ESPN - The shoe's design includes stacked Swooshes to mimic her initials and features messages like "Shoot More Threes" and "From Anywhere" underfoot.

The highly anticipated 'Caitlin 1' basketball shoe will debut in a striking “Racer Blue” colorway, with prices set at $140 for adults, $115 for big kids, and $105 for youth sizes. Designed with a new "Nike Opticast" upper to enhance movement efficiency on the court, the shoe draws inspiration from the ripple of the three-point arc. Caitlin Clark, who made several trips to Nike HQ in Portland over the past two years to collaborate on the design, expressed her excitement, stating that she challenged Nike to create something she would be proud of and believes the world will love.