The Caitlin Clark marketing phenomenon has officially made its mark in Chicago, stirring up the already intense rivalry between Clark and Angel Reese. Nike unveiled a new billboard featuring Clark at 157 W. Chicago Ave., just 3.5 miles from Wintrust Arena, home to Reese’s WNBA team, the Chicago Sky.
The placement of the billboard in Reese’s city has generated significant buzz, especially given the contentious history between the two basketball stars. Fans quickly took to social media to react, with many of Clark’s supporters using the opportunity to mock Reese.
The rivalry between Clark and Reese dates back to the 2023 NCAA women’s basketball championship when Reese’s LSU Tigers defeated Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes. Reese famously taunted Clark by pointing to her finger, signaling her championship ring, an act that sparked outrage among Clark’s fans. Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy went as far as calling Reese “a piece of s-“ in a widely circulated post on X (formerly Twitter).
The tension between their fan bases has only escalated since both players entered the WNBA. Their professional matchups have been marked by physical play and controversy. During their first meeting on June 1, Reese hit Clark on the head while attempting to block a shot. In their final game of the season on August 30, Diamond DeShields, one of Reese’s teammates, faced backlash after a physical play that sent Clark to the floor. DeShields later shared screenshots of hateful comments she received online, highlighting the intensity of the rivalry’s fan-driven drama.
Nike’s Clark takes aim at Angel Reese’s territory
Despite the heated interactions between their supporters, both players have maintained a professional stance publicly. “I think it’s really just the fans… they ride for her, and I respect that, respectfully. But sometimes it’s very disrespectful,” Reese remarked during her podcast on September 5.
She also addressed the darker side of the rivalry, revealing that some of Clark’s fans have sent her death threats and explicit AI-generated images, which were even sent to her family. “I think there’s a lot of racism when it comes to it,” she added.
Meanwhile, Clark continues to make waves off the court. In April 2024, she signed an eight-year, $28 million endorsement deal with Nike, which includes a signature shoe. This groundbreaking deal is the most lucrative in women’s basketball history and further cements her status as a marketing powerhouse.
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