WNBA star Caitlin Clark’s signature Nike Kobe Bryant sneakers quickly sold out after they hit the shelves on Monday morning. Per NBC News, the retail price for the Kobe V Protro is $190.
The sneakers hit the online shelves at 10 a.m. EDT, and they quickly sold out within minutes. The number of pairs that Nike put up for sale could, however, not be established. It is also unclear when they would hit the shelves again.
Despite being sold out, Clark’s Kobe V Protro sneakers are available for resale on eBay, with some sellers pricing them around $300 and $400. Nike says the footwear is “outfitted in Midnight Navy, Bright Crimson, vibrant hits of University Gold, and polished off with a high-gloss finish that glistens under the spotlight.”
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Jeff Staple, founder of the streetwear brand STAPLE and creative and marketing agency Reed Art Department, told the news outlet that though other popular WNBA stars have also had their own signature footwear, Clark venturing into that industry signifies a new era in women’s sports.
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“This is the first time in history where if you’re a young girl and you have athletic ability, this can be your career and you can get a shoe deal out of this,” Staple said. “Caitlin’s sneaker is not the first (by a female athlete) so in that sense, it’s not really the rookie card. But I will say, this is a new era of women sports, it’s a new chapter.”
Regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, Bryant tragically passed away in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020. The five-time NBA champion still has a huge Global fan base, and his sneaker line and other merchandise are still highly patronized.
Clark, on the other hand, made a name for herself while playing for the University of Iowa women’s basketball team, etching her name in their history books as their all-time leading scorer.
The Indiana Fever drafted the 23-year-old with the number one pick in the 2024 WNBA draft. She was named Rookie of the Year, with Time magazine also declaring her the 2024 Athlete of the Year.
READ ALSO: Angel Reese hopes she and Caitlin Clark can be WNBA teammates
