Serena Williams’ former coach, Rennae Stubbs, has stepped into the conversation surrounding Caitlin Clark and her partnership with Nike, after the sportswear giant came under fire from Clark’s fans. Despite Clark’s growing stardom and her impressive preseason debut with the Indiana Fever, many of her supporters have expressed frustration over what they see as a lack of promotional focus from Nike.
Clark, who signed a lucrative $28 million, eight-year deal with Nike in 2024, returned to her old stomping grounds at Iowa’s Carver-Hawkeye Arena for a preseason game against Brazil. She played well, tallying 16 points along with six rebounds and five assists. The performance only fueled the criticism that Nike hasn’t done enough to highlight her presence as one of the league’s most high-profile newcomers.
Stubbs, a respected voice in the world of professional tennis and a veteran coach who worked with the likes of Serena Williams and Karolina Pliskova, responded to the criticism by defending Nike. In a candid social media post, she pointed out that rolling out a major endorsement campaign—especially one involving signature products—takes time. “Do u know how long it takes to get a show rolled out??? You people are so ridiculous,” she posted, pushing back against what she called premature outrage.
Adding to the spotlight, Clark’s boyfriend, Connor McCaffery, also joined the conversation. In a more tongue-in-cheek approach, he reposted a fan’s message aimed at Nike that read, “Nike, y’all don’t get internet or what?” His subtle jab was picked up quickly by fans, intensifying the discussion online. McCaffery, a former University of Iowa athlete and now a coach with Butler’s basketball program, often supports Clark publicly on social media.
Meanwhile, Clark appears focused on the long road ahead. Despite managing a leg injury, she’s emphasized how seriously she took her offseason conditioning. In recent interviews, she credited her strength and conditioning coach for helping her build consistency and resilience, saying she now feels physically stronger than ever.
While the debate over Nike’s marketing strategy continues, it’s clear that Caitlin Clark’s star power hasn’t dimmed. With widespread fan support, a historic TV debut, and nearly every Fever game set to air nationally, Clark is poised to remain front and center in the sports world—whether or not the sneaker campaigns arrive right away.
