Caitlin Clark GETTING SIGNATURE SHOE with Nike, WHERE'S A'JA WILSON'S?! | WNTT NOW

Alicia Jay and Ashley Nicole Moss break down the signature shoe dilemma across the WNBA on We Need To Talk NOW, presented by AT&T.
The full episode is available here: • Caitlin Clark's WNBA e...
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ABOUT THE SHOW:
Get your weekly sports and culture fix with Alicia Jay and Ashley Nicole Moss. They will cover the top news in sports, with an emphasis on female athletes and women making waves across the industry.
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#wnba #basketball #sports #wbb #womenssports #womensbasketball #signatureshoe #sneakergame #sneakerhead #nike #caitlinclark #ajawilson #aces #fever

[@Eddybass1976]

Caitlin’s Clark got me interested in women’s basketball . No one else !! Caitlin does not need marketing.. everyone knows who she is ..😊😊😊

[@MRDAVIST118]

She's not marketable...duh

[@scorpionx7044]

Only because she's a Black Female, none of them have deals.

[@mojisolatoba1583]

Why must it be Nike... there are other shoes that can sign her🤷

[@ttttggggg636]

OR MAKE IT HERSELF

[@ubasatrained2650]

There is no demand for any shoes for any other person right now. Black or white.

[@survivrs]

@mojisoltoba Because if you don't wear Nike, you don't wear sh*t. I got my first pair in 1977, the Nike Cortez. I loved that shoe so much that I replaced them with another pair of Cortez shoes (after I nearly wore them out). I still wore the originals while making hay or other farm jobs that I didn't want to get my new shoes dirty from. I'm in my 60's and I still wear Nike's. I do have one pair of Asics that I love, but Nike is "the" brand.

[@ttttggggg636]

@@survivrs THAT MINDSET IS WHY BLACKS ARE AT THE BOTTOM OF EVERY METRIC. IT'S JUST A DAMN SHOE

[@mojisolatoba1583]

@@survivrs they have already signed Caitlin, so let another brand get her...

[@jimstock7459]

She doesn't sell tickets. Aces play in front of half empty seats.

[@chad85100]

WNBA will get a huge boost in viewership this year but 98% of that will be CClarks games. After the big hype wears off it will be back to the old dismal WNBA viewership ratings again. Aja doesn’t “deserve” anything as you put it because she put the work in. The best pickle ball player in the world as I’m sure put in tons of work, but they’re not getting any signature deal because nobody knows who they are. Same story.for Aja.

[@robertrowland684]

Nike just needs to make 10 pairs of Aja shoes to make people happy. Give her two and give eight to a homeless shelter. People act like she does not have a shoe deal. She does, just not a signature shoe cause nobody would buy it. For all the people crying pool your money together get Aja a shoe and write it off as a donation, cause you will see 0 profit.

[@wlane2384]

Nike tried with her with the Cosmic Unity and it didn't sell well. That's why she doesn't have a signature shoe.

[@robertrowland684]

@@wlane2384 $160.00. They could rebrand them for Clark, they did have the number 22 on them. Clark likes the Kobe's.

[@serks8297]

Yall.need to stop begging

[@chucks1673]

Annnd again, why didn't men watch the WNBA? Hmmmmmm ....... can't shame us or NIKE into anything ... it is a business ...a very successful business .....

[@bobhoward9474]

You ladies need to stop hating, whatever is going on is good for your sport and you all are trying your best to tear it down. Clark broke a long standing record, Clark had 49 point game 42 point game and so on in college. Multiple awards, and is bringing ticket sales like the WNBA has never seen, so has Wilson done these things? just straight up Womens jealousy tearing each other apart.

[@davidweiss8710]

When Caitlin's shoe line outsells this Aja's person's shoe then we will all hear from you two about how Nike didn't market it correctly. Just cue up some more crying.

[@brandonbean30]

No one is hating on Caitlin for her shoe deal All they saying is keep the same energy for A’ja Wilson as well 2x Champion 2x Finals MVP 2x MVP 2x Defensive Player Of The Year 2x will be 3x Olympian She’s definitely marketable and her shoe deal is long overdue

[@JoePesos]

​@@brandonbean30 What tells you she is marketable? Shoe deals have nothing to do with how good a player is, it is about popularity. Also bigs don't sell (her style has no appeal), even in the NBA popular shoes are exclusively tied to guards and forwards. Not since Shaq in the mid 90s has a center sold shoes and even that didn't last long.

[@survivrs]

@david YES!! I was thinking what you said with "this Aja's person". No clue who she is, don't care at this point. Caitlin is my girl, GO HAWKEYE!!

[@brandonbean30]

@@survivrs Iowa will be mid next season

[@brianchamberlain7422]

Aja who? You don't deserve to have a company spend money on you. Entitlement on steroids.

[@zealazax6287]

Not many people were interested in A'ja willson shoes. End of the day it business. No fame means no shoe.

[@chad85100]

Before this upcoming season NOBODY watched the WNBA. That is why this Aja does not have a signature shoe. NOBODY has ever heard of her outside of the 378 actual WNBA fans. Math- WNBA finals drew 850,000 viewers- fact NCAA FINAL drew over 18 million viewers. The semifinals with CClark audience was OVER 20 times the WNBA finals. Aja is NOT marketable. She may have all the accolades and a wonderful personality but NOBODY knows who she is. That is marketability. Did you know to get on the New York Times “best seller list” all you have to do is sell 5,000-10,000 books. That is nothing.

[@natureredux1957]

In order to know if someone is Marketable, one would FIRST have to try and market them. Also, Nobody is ZERO. Almost a 1 Million viewers is not Zero. So seems you are the one with a Math Problem. Also, now that everyone is saying Nobody knows who she is, Now the Exact Opposite is true. So now that all the Eyes and Ears will be on actually Game Play as oppose to HYPE, will find out the TRUE marketability. FACT!

[@chad85100]

Ummm no I like 99.9% of Americans still have no idea who Aja W. is other than a bunch of black woke women crying that she does not have a signature shoe. If it was a race thing by Nike as these race baiters all claim then why is all the Nike men shoes with Black men- Jordan , Kobe , Lebron, Allen Iverson and many others. Nike doesn’t care what color you are only care if you are MARKETABLE and the only color they care about is green. Can you make them money. Let me correct myself. Not NOBODY but instead virtually nobody- as in very few. Many of those “viewers” for ESPN (and this has been proven) are not households or individuals but are restaurants, bars , Golds gyms , sports clips etc. that have 10,15,20+ televisions that no one in the establishment is watching.

[@chad85100]

The Huge record numbers for the WNBA draft previously were 600,000 again probably mostly sports bars etc. with no one paying attention. Then this year with C. Clark it was over 2.5 Million. That is over 4 times the numbers. That is why she is getting a signature shoe and the other women are not. That is marketability. Someone who is actually selling out the arenas. Never happened before. I’m not even a CC fan and honestly think the fad/attention will last less than a year and next year it goes back to the same old pathetic ratings and attendance. Could be wrong but….

[@MrInfinitig35s]

It seems like everyone in the comments gets it, why do the talking heads not get it? People actually watched The women’s tournament in mass this year and they watched the WNBA draft, was that because of AJA Wilson?

[@PhillyTJ]

Lets be honest who will buy and wear Asia Wilson shoe? Non of y'all eill buy that jawn and support her and nike knows it.

[@JoePesos]

This conversation is mixing up a shoe deal and a signature shoe (shoe that carries your name and brand). The NBA example mentioned some guys with shoe deals not signature shoes. Any semi popular player can have a shoe deal since the show is not specific to them, but you need to be popular (not necessarily great) to have a signature shoe. These companies are risk averse, they want a sure thing, that means a player that is already massively popular (without the company spending a penny). They aren't looking to gamble on a player who does not have that already. Aja doesn't have that appeal, the Diggins example i do agree with, she could have sold a lot of product.

[@wisethabrain1100]

If Nike thought they could make money off of Aja Wilson THEY WOULD DO IT!!!

[@beautifuljewishgirl8050]

Thank you. I had to scream too. It's always about race with these people. Black this black that. SHUT UP ALREADY AND PLAY BALL!

[@REDDLADY2]

Before all the attention on Catlin Clark's shoe deal, hardly anyone outside of the few WNBA fans knew who she was. The issue was and still is marketability. That's why she doesn't have a signature shoe deal. Other than this season the WNBA has had poor ratings, poor attendance and poor PR. Women as whole did not support the WNBA. I now who she is, before this I had never heard of her.

[@mavericktimmy]

I'm in the Philippines and I've never heard of these women you are speaking about. But Caitlin Clark put a spotlight on WNBA and Women's basketball in general. I'm a great Pistol Pete fan and she broke his record, that's crazy. I'll buy CC's shoes for my kids.

[@jmikew417]

I'm tried of this whole argument. It is almost talking me into just continuing to ignore the WNBA again. I don't watch sports (men or women) for political correctness, I watch sports to be entertained and to get away from this type of garbage.

[@joemodest]

I'm from Southeast Asia, and if we don't know or even heard of A'ja Wilson before compared to Caitlin Clark right now and we're speaking globally, then there goes the answer. WE DON'T RECOGNIZE HER

[@nanealdiamond28]

It's not up to you two to decide who gets a shoe. If Nike doesn't want to give a signature shoe out they don't have too. You guys don't get to make business decisions for companies.

[@Lorenzojones46]

You guys are I think missing the bigger point.!! I watch Aja and I am not moved her game is not super exciting

[@anthonytaylor7928]

And the what does Clark have ?? Other than a long three or shot and a few assists. Can't play a lick of defense not that attractive . Wilson game is no different than Stewart and Stewart has a shoe

[@petep5207]

@@anthonytaylor7928 Natural hair will always be more attractive than horse hair and tarantula lashes

[@anthonypuccetti8779]

@@anthonytaylor7928 She has the most points, the third most assists, the best offense, court vision and passing, and the biggest fan base of any athlete.

[@jordanparker5949]

@@anthonytaylor7928 Clark has Viewers!!!!

[@burdphil]

@@anthonytaylor7928a few assists… a couple points… maybe a rebound here or there… 🤔

[@ronscorner4819]

No hate but A'ja Failed to attract viewers, sponsors, and investors. Just look at her game, that answers the question why she ain't got no deal.

[@serks8297]

Sounds like yall need to talk to nik3

[@msdavis9658]

Are you not watching the Aces that have back to back championship!! A'ja is the GOAT @A'jaWilson

[@ronscorner4819]

@@msdavis9658 come on now, the only player who was fun to watch before the rise of Caitlin Clark is Marine Johannès, the french woman who shoot 3s with one leg, look how she passes, look at her highlights. No matter how many ring A'ja got, still can't attract sponsors, unless she starts dunking the ball, maybe Adidas signs her, or Puma, or idk.

[@joshuafootman1593]

Nobody knows Aja plain and simple. Business isn't done on who deserves 😂😂

[@soseiqueestouaqui435]

Brazil is looking forward to Wnba, Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese

[@bwtv147]

How much A’ja Wilson merch have you bought?

[@kristydrips2054]

when was the last time AJA played a game that was viewed by over 18 million people

[@Eddybass1976]

I’ve heard enough!!!

[@christopherwilliams5775]

It is all about sells and being marketable! The numbers are what makes the needle move to everyone on these different levels! You ladies need to get for real! Catlin Clark got me excited to watch women basketball which I did not watch before! That is the truth! Clark sold out every stadium wherever she went.. Aja who?? I don't even know who you ladies are!

[@ronpowers4102]

no one "deserves" to have a signature shoe. Nike is in business to make money not just shoes.

[@jyee2217]

Let 50 cent give her a deal. Business isnt a charity

[@jouzou4311]

For her she win the championship but the effect and her impact is zero

[@zealazax6287]

Jokic doesn't have a shoe

[@rondonavisbardclay6071]

He does.

[@destinypirate]

I guess he does so the spirit of your point still stands, they're not selling like hotcakes and probably are not a worthwhile investment

[@destinypirate]

Turns out your point is basically right he has some no name Chinese shoe, because nobody wants the MVP

[@RichardSorenson]

Big corp are in the business to make $. Clark has been apart of the most watched games in history. Did Aja have 24 million viewers? If you want her to have a shoe deal support her. Buy tickets to her games, buy her merch, watch her on tv, social media her. But please, don't use the lazy excuse of racism.

[@arlypaulmigueldamuy5221]

It's not about an equally great player or an even better player. It's a business decision i.e. marketability. Caitlin is loved by non-"woke", straight, and patriotic Americans. And there are millions of them. Caitlin, wherever she played, has sold out arenas. Can Wilson have the same claim?

[@gitoffmahlawn]

Who?

[@foodbeforepills8749]

Why Nikola Jokic doesn't have a signature shoe? He's not marketable. Nuf said.

[@brandonbean30]

Jokić Isn’t interested in being marketable

[@tariqm9912]

Jokic's shoe is called BIG3. Made by 361 Degrees.

[@foodbeforepills8749]

@@tariqm9912 Yes, but none of the big USA brands gave him a deal.

[@WellreadSneakerhead]

Lol he's very marketable in his own way. Same with A'ja.

[@bobhoward9474]

A ja got a shoe deal oh boy lets party a hand out

[@destinypirate]

"It needs to be fixed". At what point are the people assuming the authority to judge what needs to be fixed going to look at the system that has failed to ever produce a woman's basketball superstar until now? They should stop with the foolish race narrative since there have been many white women basketball players who are top of the game. If something needs to stop why don't they look at stopping the system that fails to produce stars? Is the easiest thing in the world to see that an NCAA that allows 10 5 stars on one team is going to destroy any opportunity for a single star to build a legend, even worse those teams are going to buzz saw through other teams that do have individual stars. Only Clark was great enough to almost break the Monopoly although she had to face a team loaded with 25% of last year's five-star recruits, as backups. What a joke demanding all of this change and not a single person is demanding to change the system that has been suppressing women Stars for decades. Even worse we see most of the same people who are complaining at the same people who are complaining about the lack of start developments at the same time applauding South Carolina and Uconn and The gatekeepers who could never bring their Stars even more than a couple million fans at a championship game. Don't people understand what sport is? The people want a story of inspiration, that they can relate with in a way to themselves or regular person rising up to overcome the odds - not a monopoly game that that undermines competition.l, which is too much like the state of our present culture where a half a dozen corporations dominate every industry in most people's lives.

[@NeighborTom]

Who? Does Anthony Davis have a shoe?

[@knuke9596]

At one point he did several years ago (pre-Lakers).

[@NeighborTom]

@@knuke9596 Why not now?

[@helenoftroy1227]

Americans have short attention spans. The cc hype will die down and we’ll get back to business. BTW, A’ja has a signature shoe in the works along with Wemby and a few others.

[@destinypirate]

Clark is part of the Zeitgeist and a household name now, people will continue to tune in with her for years, like they did with tiger woods, unless of course the whining and negativity of other players and pundits drives people away.

[@destinypirate]

Hopefully people won't fall into the hive mind of race-baiting when her shoes don't sell like Caitlin's. Maybe they should take a look at why none of these women became stars in the first place. Here's a hint, when the NCAA allows a handful of teams to have 5 to 10 5 Stars each and win 70% of the championships nobody cares about those teams or those players because it's not good sport it's not competition and it's not inspiring.

[@helenoftroy1227]

@@destinypirate Lazy, unintelligent and intellectually dishonest comments annoy me. You mean race-baiting like yourself? I didn’t mention anything about race. Yet, here you come. Some people will follow Clark. Others will not as is already the case. The WNBA is full of stars & phenomenal players. Those of us who have followed women’s basketball for years already know this. As for athletes going to certain schools, it’s called recruiting. Parity across women’s college basketball is at an all time high. If some schools can’t attract top talent, that’s THEIR problem. Do a better job.

[@tariqm9912]

@@destinypirate I have a question for you...what makes you think Caitlin's shoes will sell?

[@brandonbean30]

@@destinypirate That’s like saying “I’m tired of Jordan and Bulls winning everytime” like FOH Aja Wilson stayed home to play for South Carolina She’s the reason why South Carolina is South Carolina and for that she has a statue South Carolina & UCONN have proven to be elite programs over time so recruits and portal players come there Stop hating on greatness

[@420blowingsmoke]

This america for ya. This person who sells gets a shoe but this person over here who's done all this but doesn't sell deserves a shoe n only because that person got one. Gtfoh Welcome to America I work here, I see all the time people get things that they don't deserve but that's just the way it goes.

[@accucadd]

I am saying A'ja doesn't deserve a show. I have never heard of her. I have still never heard of her. The WNBa HAS BEEN UNWATCHABLE. Caitlin Clark will bring eyes to your league. You are biting the hand that feeds you. Caitlin Clark in not the moment. CC will be the future or the downfall of the WNBA.

[@maidendimeola65]

aja who?

[@user-kj4yf7xd5z]

😂😂😂 nobody knows her