The Indiana Fever’s 2026 season came to an end after the Las Vegas Aces defeated them in the series-deciding Game 3 on Thursday, the same day Nike released Caitlin Clark’s debut signature shoe. For a competitor like Clark, losing the series to A’ja Wilson and the Aces may have diluted the joy of having her dream come true. But the Fever star received an encouraging message from U.S. Senator from Iowa, Chuck Grassley.
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“My compliments to Caitlin Clark on her successful season with the Fever. She is 1 of the best athletes in the world from the standpoint of physicality & mental toughness +BIG congratulations on the release and sold out position of her new game shoes,” Grassley wrote on X.
Clark had her best season since being drafted by the Fever in 2024. Following her historic rookie season, Clark’s second season was marred by a series of injuries that limited her to just 13 games. This season, Clark recorded her best offensive numbers, and the Fever also recorded a league-best offensive rating.
She recorded 22.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 8.3 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. She was ranked third among scorers and second in assists. But the Fever failed to get over the Aces and crashed out of the first round, losing the series by 2-1. She averaged 20.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 9.7 assists, and 1.3 blocks during the series.
However, Grassleywasn’t the only one who complimented Caitlin Clark and company. NBA star Tyrese Haliburton took to social media after the Fever’s loss, praising the team for their historic season, as they had their most winning regular season in 2026 with a 28-16 record.
“Helluva season @IndianaFever❤️.”
Although the series didn’t go the Fever’s way, she still reached a significant individual milestone. Hours before Game 3, Nike released Clark’s first two colorways of her first signature shoe, Caitlin 1.
The games were in Las Vegas, and Clark woke up in Pacific Time and found out that both “Caitlin Blue” and “Warning Code Yellow” were sold out within hours of release. During the pre-game media interaction, she seemed happy about the much-awaited release, but made it clear that winning the game was still her top priority.
Nike released Caitlin 1 at 10 a.m. ET on its official website. According to CNBC, after an hour of the sneakers going on sale, only a few that were above size 15 were left in stock. According to Nike CEO Elliott Hil, it was the largest Clark 1 was Nike’s largest shoe introduction in the company’s history.
Clark signed an 8-year, $28 million deal with Nike in April 2024. In August last year, Clark was added to the list of signature athletes by the brand, and a year later, she has her first signature shoe in the market.
“A lot of thought and time has gone into this shoe,” Clark said in an official statement.
“I never thought I would have my own signature shoe, and now that I do, it’s pretty special. I can’t wait to share this moment with so many people.”
Caitlin 1 has a unique construction, designed perfectly to Clark’s playing style. The Nike Opticast gives Nike a lightweight feel, aided by responsive forefoot Air Zoom Turbo. The shoe also features cushion foam to support players’ explosive moves on the court.
The shoe features the CC logo and #22 of the Fever star on the tongue. The double-stacked Swoosh logos were included to show Clark’s personal touch in designing the shoe. The text on both sides of the shoe makes it even more personal to Clark. The left side features text that reads, “It was never a long shot,” and “Shoot More Threes.” The right side of the Caitlin 1 features “From Anywhere.”
“I hope every boy and girl put this shoe on and hope that they can have a signature one day, or that they can go on the court and make 35-foot threes,” Clark added in her statement. “I hope this gives them that sense of belief and that sense of confidence to achieve whatever they want to.”
Caitlin 1 has been released in 5000 Nike stores. It is priced at $140 in adult sizes. The brand will add kids’ sizes on later dates.