Caitlin Clark’s ‘Nike Ad’ Comment on Kelsey Plum’s Post Highlights WNBA’s Footwear Rivalry

Caitlin Clark wasn’t on the court during the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game on Saturday, but she still made plenty of headlines, including with her multiple shoe changes.

And the WNBA stirred up more attention on Monday. After Kelsey Plum posted a recap photo from the weekend with the Nike logo visible in the background, Clark jumped into the comments with six cutting words: “Thank u for the Nike ad.”

Plum, now a Los Angeles Sparks guard and Under Armour ambassador, had taken an earlier jab at Clark for missing a pregame players’ meeting where All-Stars coordinated to wear “Pay us what you owe us” shirts. Her dig came during a postgame press conference. Clark’s response, though subtle, reminded followers where her brand loyalty lies — and how visible that Swoosh really was.

The moment was a rare off-court volley between two of the league’s biggest stars, whose footwear allegiances have become part of their public personas. Clark, Nike’s marquee WNBA athlete, re-signed a multiyear deal with the brand last April, reportedly worth $28 million. Though she doesn’t yet have a signature shoe, her Kobe PEs have consistently gone viral. Her latest, a Cookie Monster-themed Kobe 6 Protro with fuzzy laces and a cookie-colored tongue, has fans clamoring for a release.

Plum, who left Nike for Under Armour in 2022, has since become one of the brand’s most visible women’s basketball athletes. She wore the UA Breakthru 5 in the All-Star Game, including her own “Plumberry” colorway, and appeared on FN’s February cover alongside rapper Lay Bankz to promote the brand’s Courtside capsule. “It’s extremely important to me to have partners that align with my vision,” Plum said at the time.

The rivalry has played out mostly in comments and captions, but there’s a footwear-forward thread beneath it all. Even while sidelined, Clark’s presence drew attention back to Nike, while Plum’s comment stirred debate around visibility, leadership and brand representation. Though not overtly about sneakers, their exchanges underscore just how intertwined WNBA identity and sponsorship have become.

The Sparks and the Fever are scheduled to face off Aug. 5 in Los Angeles. Whether the two guards will share the floor or stick to off-court digs remains to be seen. Either way, what they wear — and where they photograph themselves in it — may speak just as loudly as what they say.