Caitlin Clark makes history off the court as Dick’s Sporting Goods and Foot Locker choose WNBA superstar for a first-ever partnership

Caitlin Clark has added another major milestone to her growing basketball career, but this time, the Indiana Fever star has made headlines off the court. The WNBA superstar has signed a multi-year partnership with Dick’s Sporting Goods and Foot Locker, becoming the first individual athlete to earn the brand-partner title with either retailer.The agreement gives Clark a bigger platform in the sports retail business. It also brings together her growing signature product line and two major names in the sporting goods and sneaker industry. Caitlin Clark becomes the first athlete to partner with Dick’s Sporting Goods and Foot LockerThe agreement is not limited to putting Clark in a few advertisements. Dick’s Sporting Goods and Foot Locker will work with the Indiana Fever guard on national and global marketing campaigns, product promotions, retail experiences, digital campaigns, fan activations and community programming.The partnership will also support Clark’s signature footwear, apparel and other product lines. She will take part in appearances and community events, giving fans more opportunities to connect with the basketball star away from the court.There is also a personal connection behind the deal. Clark grew up shopping at Dick’s Sporting Goods before the start of each sports season. At the partnership announcement event in New York, she spoke about how the retailer had been part of her childhood sporting routine.“Dick’s Sporting Goods was always a stop before the start of any sports season when I was growing up,” Clark said in the statement announcing the partnership.She also called becoming the first brand partner for both companies a special full-circle moment. For Clark, the agreement brings her back to a retailer she knew long before she became one of basketball's biggest names.Dick’s executive chairman Ed Stack also highlighted Clark's appeal beyond basketball. In the announcement, he pointed to her interest in golf, football, soccer, baseball and softball, saying she could connect with fans across different parts of the company's business.The arrangement also reflects a new chapter for Dick’s Inc. The company owns the Foot Locker business, making this its first joint athlete partnership across the two retail brands. While both retailers have previously featured athletes in advertising campaigns and store events, neither had appointed an individual athlete as an official brand partner. Nike's Caitlin 1 launch adds another milestone to her growing commercial successThe new agreement comes shortly after another major achievement for Clark. On October 1, 2026, Nike launched the Caitlin 1, her first signature basketball shoe, alongside an 18-piece apparel collection.The release marked the largest women's signature shoe launch in Nike's history. Demand quickly followed, with several sizes selling out within hours on Nike.com and other sneaker retail websites. The launch gave Clark another major presence in the footwear market, beyond her performances with the Indiana Fever.Her relationship with Nike also has a long history. Clark signed a name, image and likeness deal with the company in 2022 while playing college basketball. After entering the WNBA, she signed an eight-year, $28 million contract with Nike, which WWD reported as the largest deal of its kind for a women's basketball player.However, Nike is not the only major brand in her portfolio. Clark also has endorsement partnerships with Wilson, Gatorade, State Farm and Panini. The Dick’s Sporting Goods and Foot Locker agreement now adds two major retail platforms to that list.Her appeal also extends beyond her individual endorsements. A SportsPro marketability ranking released in November 2026 placed Clark at No. 1 among WNBA players and No. 15 among athletes worldwide.Dick’s executives also see an opportunity to connect Clark's popularity with the next generation of athletes. Emily Silver, the company's chief marketing, e-commerce and athlete experience officer, highlighted how Clark has inspired young girls and boys to take up sports.Foot Locker's senior vice president and chief marketing officer, Brett O’Brien, also praised her influence, saying she has brought new energy to basketball and inspired a new generation of fans.The partnership offers more than another addition to her endorsement portfolio. It connects Caitlin Clark's childhood experience as a young sports enthusiast with her present position as one of the most recognisable faces in women's basketball. And with Dick’s Sporting Goods and Foot Locker making her their first-ever athlete brand partner, the Indiana Fever star has reached another milestone that goes well beyond the WNBA court.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.