NEW YORK — Caitlin Clark needs to work on her putting, but — no surprise — she’s pretty good at Pop-A-Shot.
In an event Wednesday morning revealing her as the first brand partner of Dick’s Sporting Goods and Foot Locker, the WNBA star tried to sink a few putts on a simulator before demonstrating her expertise at the arcade basketball shooting game.
Prior to the athletic competition, where Clark took on Dick’s executive chairman Ed Stack on the putting green and some media guests in the Pop-A-Shot, Clark said the new partnership was especially meaningful to her because of her long relationship with Dick’s.
“As a young kid, that’s where I went and got every sporting good that I possibly imagine,” she said. “I probably spent so much of [my parents’] money, whether it was a new softball glove, or a new tennis racket, or a new pair of basketball shoes. That was one of my favorite moments, especially during the wintertime, going to pick out my new favorite basketball shoes that I got to play in. So I’m just really honored and excited to work with the team.”
She said the new deal will also allow her to connect more closely with her fans from around the world who can shop Dick’s or Foot Locker for the Caitlin Clark basketball from Wilson or her signature shoes from Nike. “Our vision is to connect with the greatest amount of people that we possibly can, whether that’s here in the United States or overseas, and I think Dick’s is the right partner to do that.”
Stack said he considers Clark to be “an inspiration” to youth, particularly young girls. “One of the things that we’ve always felt at Dick’s is that sports changes lives, and with what Caitlin’s done and is doing, she’s definitely changing lives.”
He pointed to her nonprofit, the Caitlin Clark Foundation, whose goal is to improve the lives of youth through education, nutrition and sports — a mission that is similar to that of Dick’s charitable arm, Sports Matter. “The two things we really do with our kids is give them the ability to go somewhere to belong, and you can do that through sports,” Stack said. “So it’s pretty symbiotic between what Caitlin and her team wants to do and what our team wants to do.”
And research has shown that kids who play sports tend to stay in school, he added. “Their sport team keeps them motivated,” and their coaches serve as mentors “who keep them off academic probation and make sure they’re doing their homework.”
And the new relationship with Clark will help the companies further that work. “We couldn’t have a better ambassador who not only transcends just basketball, but all sports,” Stack said.
Under the terms of the deal revealed Wednesday, Dick’s and Foot Locker will collaborate with Clark on national and global campaigns; custom promotions supporting her signature footwear, apparel and product lines; retail and digital experiences; fan activations; appearances, and community programming.
“We’re excited to partner with Caitlin because we see the same opportunity to build on the energy around basketball and bring more people closer to the game through Dick’s and Foot Locker,” said Stack. “Caitlin has an incredible ability to inspire, and as an athlete whose love of sports extends beyond basketball to golf, football, soccer, baseball, softball and more, she connects with fans across every part of our business. This partnership offers new ways to come together around a shared passion for sport, and the possibilities it creates.”
“Caitlin has had an extraordinary impact on the game of basketball, not only through her talent and star power but through the countless young girls and boys she has inspired to play the sports that they love, stay in the game and become fans of sport,” said Emily Silver, chief marketing, e-commerce and athlete experience officer of Dick’s. “That impact is deeply connected to what we believe at Dick’s: sports can build confidence, create opportunity and change lives. We’re proud to partner with an athlete who is helping a new generation see what’s possible.”
“Caitlin’s influence reaches far beyond the court. She has captivated fans, inspired a new generation and brought new energy to the game,” said Brett O’Brien, senior vice president and chief marketing officer of Foot Locker. “Foot Locker has always been the home for basketball, connecting fans with the athletes, products and moments that move the game forward across the globe. Our partnership with Caitlin builds on that commitment, creating new opportunities to bring fans closer to the sport and celebrate the culture surrounding it.”
Clark, who now plays for the Indiana Fever, helped popularize women’s basketball during her college years at the University of Iowa with her three-point shooting skill. She was signed to an NIL deal with Nike in 2022 while she was still in school and, after she turned pro, inked an eight-year, $28 million contract with the company, the largest ever for a women’s basketball player. Her signature shoe, the Nike Caitlin 1, debuted on Oct. 1, along with a small collection of apparel that sports her interlocking CC logo on T-shirts, hoodies, shorts and fleece sweatpants.
At the event on Wednesday, Clark said that her experience in sports has resulted in the creation of “lifelong relationships,” whether that’s the teammates she played with in high school or her coaches.
“I loved team sports way more than individual sports because there’s some days where it just doesn’t go your way,” she said. “That’s how it is in basketball. I think that’s how it is in life. And you have these all these people around you to help pick you up and help lift you up.”
She pointed to her coach on the Iowa Hawkeyes, Lisa Bluder, as “one of the most impactful people that I’ve had in my sports journey.” And although Clark was clearly the star of the team, Bluder treated all the players the same, a philosophy that can be applied to all things in life. “Everybody should be valued, and everybody kind of had a seat at the table,” she said.
The formal part of the event ended with Clark and Stack talking golf. The basketball star said she needs to spend more time practicing her putting while Stack said he struggles with his short game, primarily chipping. But they both picked Pebble Beach as one of their dream courses.
Stack said if he had only one more round left to play in his life, it would be a 65-degree, blue sky day at Pebble. “And if it’s my last round, I’m going to walk very slowly.”
Clark interjected: “You don’t like the golf cart? That’s not going to go well for us.”
