Caitlin Clark's Nike Kobe V Protro Sneakers Sell Out Instantly, Resell for 210% Markup

Caitlin Clark’s new Nike sneakers, the Kobe V Protro, sold out almost immediately upon their release on Tuesday. The sneakers, designed by the WNBA star, were inspired by the Indiana Fever's colors and featured a high-gloss Midnight Blue design with accents in Bright Crimson and University Gold. The limited edition sneakers, estimated to be around 13,000 pairs, were priced at $190 and were available on Nike's website starting at 10 AM ET. The quick sellout indicates a high demand for Clark's signature sneakers, which are now being resold on the secondary market for prices as high as $600.

Clark has been a phenomenon since her college days and her entry into the WNBA has boosted both ratings and ticket sales. Last season, the league saw its highest attendance in 22 years and had the highest viewership in 24 years. The success of Clark's sneaker release is a testament to her growing influence in the sportswear market. Clark, who has been a Nike athlete since inking an NIL deal with the sportswear giant just before her junior NCAA season at the University of Iowa in October 2022, later signed a reported eight-year, $28 million endorsement contract with Nike. This deal includes the release of a signature shoe, and the brand appears to be testing the market's waters using Clark's preferred on-court Kobe sneakers, which have proven to be a sellout success.

Clark isn’t the first WNBA player to get her own line of shoes. Sheryl Swoops was the first to do so with a line of Nike Air Swoops. Sabrina Ionescu has also introduced the Nike Sabrina 2s. But Clark’s shoes are, by far, the most coveted among sneakerheads. And there’s lots of room for prices to go up. The resale market for Clark's sneakers is booming, with online resellers currently selling the shoes at a significant markup. This trend is not surprising, as Nike's collaboration with high-profile athletes often leads to high demand and limited supply, driving up prices on the secondary market. The success of Clark's sneaker release is a positive sign for Nike, as it indicates that the brand's strategy of partnering with influential athletes is paying off. The resale market's response to Clark's sneakers is a harbinger of Nike's continued dominance in the sportswear industry, as the brand continues to leverage the star power of its athletes to drive sales and maintain its market position.