If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Footwear News may receive an affiliate commission.
Update: Oct. 3, 2024
Less than a month after earning 2024 Associated Press WNBA Rookie of the Year honors, Caitlin Clark was named 2024 Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year.
The Indiana Fever guard was announced by the WNBA as the winner on Thursday, receiving 66 votes from a national panel of 67 sportswriters and broadcasters. Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky received one vote.
With Clark winning the award, Indiana now has back-to-back winners, with Aliyah Boston winning in 2023. Clark is the third Indiana player to win the award, the first being Tamika Catchings in 2002.
On its Nike Basketball and Nike Women accounts on Instagram, the athletic giant congratulated Clark in a post captioned “The collection keeps growing,” followed by a list of her accolades this season. The list was so long that Nike had to add more in the comment section.
What’s more, Nike has added a T-shirt commemorating Clark’s award win on Nike.com, which retails for $40.
Watch on FN
What We Originally Reported on Sept. 22, 2024
After a stellar first season in the league, Caitlin Clark was named 2024 Associated Press WNBA Rookie of the Year.
The Indiana Fever guard earned the honor unanimously, the AP announced Sunday afternoon. With the honor, Clark is now the team’s second player to win the award, the first being her teammate Aliyah Boston in 2023.
What’s more, Clark was also named to the AP All-WNBA First Team and the AP All-Rookie Team.
As a rookie, Clark led the league in several statistical categories, including three-point field goals made (3.1 per game), assists (337) and assists per game (8.4 per game). She led all rookies in points (769) and points per game (769), as well as steals (53) and steals per game (1.3).
What’s more, with 337 assists on the season, she now holds the single-season assist record. On Sept. 13 against the Las Vegas Aces, she broke the record of 316, which was previously held by Alyssa Thomas of the Connecticut Sun. (Thomas also beat her previous record this season, and ended the 2024 regular season with 317.)
For all of these moments, Clark wore eye-catching Nike Kobe basketball shoes, whether it was a coveted colorway that once hit retail or a player edition (PE). Here are five from the hooper’s first season in the WNBA.
WNBA Debut
Clark made her WNBA regular season debut on May 14, 2024 against the Connecticut Sun. For her first game as a pro, the rookie has the Nike Kobe 6 Protro “Grinch” laced up.
Nike Kobe 6 Protro “Grinch” Shoes
Assists Record
Clark added another accolade to her impressive rookie season on Sept. 13. While facing the Las Vegas Aces, she set the new WNBA single-season assists record, getting her 317th assist during the second quarter. On her feet, Clark had a PE of the Nike Kobe 6 Protro laced up. The look, which she has worn on the court before, was predominantly gray and white with hits of light blue throughout.
WNBA All-Star
For her first WNBA All-Star Game, Clark had on a special pair of Nike Kobe 6 Protro sneakers that were previously teased on Instagram by Kobe Bryant’s wife, Vanessa Bryant, that were created specifically for the event. The Nike Kobe 6 “WNBA All-Star” PE was executed in a bright red and green colorway.
First PE
In late July, Clark debuted her first Nike Kobe PE during an Indiana Fever practice, a Nike Kobe 5 Protro in the black and gold hues of her alma matter, the University of Iowa.
Another PE for the Star Rookie
For a mid-September matchup against the Aces, Clark had on an eye-catching Nike Kobe 6 Protro PE. The yellow hues used throughout made this stand out, as well as the black and yellow gradient on the uppers.
About the Author
Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.
