Caitlin Clark’s $28 Million Nike Deal Fueled Stephen Curry-Under Armour Split

Stephen Curry was one of the bidders to sign Caitlin Clark as a signature athlete through his Curry Brand-Under Armour collaboration.

Caitlin Clark’s $28 Million Nike Deal Fueled Stephen Curry-Under Armour Split

Stephen Curry and Caitlin Clark (Image via FirstSportz)

🔍 Explore this post with:

ChatGPTPerplexityGrok AIGoogle AI

When Stephen Curry created his Curry Brand, the idea was that the brand would rival the globally popular Jordan Brand and become a household name in the same manner.

That is why he wanted to do it with Under Armour, an ambitious sportswear company that wanted to scale the sneaker market just as much as the Golden State Warriors star envisioned.

Stephen Curry was instrumental in the brand signing a star player in the NBA, such as De’Aaron Fox. However, the brand could not find many other prospective candidates in the men’s game.

That is why the 37-year-old looked towards women’s basketball, and the untapped potential interested him. He signed UConn guard Azzi Fudd, who has just helped her university win the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

Then there was MiLaysia Fulwiley, who happens to be one of the most tantalizing prospects in women’s college basketball, and like Fudd, could be battling for the championship herself.

However, for a brand to grow at an exponential rate, it needs top superstars who have a plethora of fans following them. Someone like Caitlin Clark would have perfectly fit the bill, as she is one of the most popular athletes in the world.

Sources noted that one “sore point” for Curry was the attempt last year to recruit Fever G Caitlin Clark to join his brand. He and the company “pursued the phenom, but Under Armour’s offer trailed the total value of Nike’s pitch.”

Sports Business Journal revealed

The publication noted that Stephen Curry had hoped Under Armour’s CEO would invest more in recruiting Clark. But their disinterest, combined with the underperforming sales, eventually led to the two splitting.

Under Armour offered Caitlin Clark $16 million

When Caitlin Clark‘s sneaker deal was about to come to a close, there were rumors that most of the major players were pitching their offers to the then-college basketball star.

Nike eventually came out on top for two primary reasons. One was the Iowa native’s familiarity with the company and its products, as she has always worn Nike, particularly Kobe Bryant‘s line of signature shoes.

On top of that, their 8-year, $28 million deal was the most money anyone was willing to pay. Sure, it is way below what an NBA player would get, but it was still more than any woman has ever received.

Later on, it was revealed that Adidas bid a paltry $6 million for a 4-year deal. Puma left the table when they were informed that bidding would start at $3 million a year.

Then there was Under Armour, which offered a 4-year deal worth $16 million. On paper, that was the best yearly average offer on the table, but the length was not something she was happy with.

This means that had the company offered her, say, 7 years or so, with a similar annual average, maybe Stephen Curry would have had the Indiana Fever superstar under his brand, and he may not have left Under Armour after all.

Stephen Curry wore Nike’s in a game for the first time since 2013

Curry is a big believer in the potential of women’s basketball and has been rightfully supporting any player he can. Naturally, due to his constraints with Under Armour, he could not reach out to players other than those under his brand the way he would have liked.

Sabrina Ionescu, Stephen Curry, and Breanna Stewart at the Paris Olympics
Sabrina Ionescu, Stephen Curry, and Breanna Stewart at the Paris Olympics (Image via Clutch Points/X)

For instance, the 2-time NBA league MVP shares a close bond with WNBA superstar Sabrina Ionescu. But just like Caitlin Clark, she too is a Nike signature athlete, and already has 3 shoes released, with the first two massive success stories.

In fact, her shoes are so well-liked that many NBA stars wear her shoes. This time, Stephen Curry decided to show the world how good her sneakers are, as he wore them to their game against the Utah Jazz.

It happens to be the first time the Warriors star has worn a Nike sneaker in a game since 2013, and it had to be Sabrina Ionescu’s recently released Sabrina 3s.

He could have played in any other sneaker he wanted. By wearing the Liberty star’s shoes, he gave every brand courting him all that they needed to know about his interest in promoting women as signature athletes.

Also Read: