Nike Caitlin 1: the first signature shoe of Caitlin Clark has arrived (and Travis Scott has already tried it in black)
The day thousands of WNBA fans have been waiting for two years has finally arrived. Caitlin Clark, phenomenon of the Indiana Fever and the most followed athlete in the league, has officially unveiled her first Nike signature shoe: the Caitlin 1. The announcement came yesterday through a "photo dump" on Instagram — Clark also changed her username to @caitlin1 — followed by the official confirmation from Nike Basketball.
Release date and price
The Caitlin 1 will be available globally from October 1, 2026, at 10:00 ET, on Nike SNKRS and selected stores. In the United States, the price is set at $140 for adult sizes (grade school $115, preschool $105).
Nike has not yet announced the official price in euros for the Italian/European market — based on the positioning of other female Nike signature shoes (Sabrina Ionescu, A'ja Wilson), we expect a figure approximately between €135 and €145, but this is our estimate and not a confirmed data. The launch colorway will be "Racer Blue".
The technology: Nike Opticast
The real distinctive feature of the shoe is the upper in Nike Opticast, a new construction process that uses PU nodes printed with variable heights (Z-height), designed to reduce friction and improve movement efficiency on the court. The visual effect recalls the waves of the three-point arc — not a random detail, given Clark's reputation from beyond the arc.
Underfoot, a Cushlon midsole paired with an Air Zoom Turbo unit articulated in the forefoot. An interesting detail: the setup is asymmetrical — the lateral side is deliberately thinner to stay closer to the ground (reactivity, speed in changes of direction), while the medial side is more structured, with a visible Air unit, to provide containment and stability.
Aesthetics and Easter egg
The design plays entirely on Clark's initials and jersey number: on the outer side, two overlapping Swooshes form a hidden "CC", with small TPU nodes shaped like "C". On the medial side, a traditional Swoosh and nodes shaped like "2" (her number, 22). Under the sole, three motivational phrases: "Shoot More Threes", "From Anywhere", "It was never a long shot". The designer behind the project is Ben Nethongkome, already author of models like Nike A'One, Book 1, and Ja 3.
Colorways already spotted
Besides the launch "Racer Blue", a leak of Travis Scott also appeared, seen wearing a completely black version of the shoe — most likely a preview of the "Black/Metallic Silver/Racer Blue" colorway expected in the coming months (although some consider it a simple wear-test sample). Teasers of a green/red "Grinch" colorway and a Christmas-themed edition have also been glimpsed, judging by the insole shown by Clark.
With this launch, Clark becomes the fifth active WNBA athlete to have a signature shoe with a major brand, after Angel Reese (Reebok), Breanna Stewart (Puma), Sabrina Ionescu, and A'ja Wilson (both Nike).
What the Triple experts think
Taking a first look at the images circulated, our TripleBasket team expects a shoe designed for speed: the Opticast upper and the lowered lateral midsole aim straight at point guards and guards who run the court and change direction continuously — not by chance Nike itself talks about "speed, range, unpredictability" as pillars of the project. At the same time, those vertical "under the skin" nodes visible on the upper are not just aesthetics: their function is to provide structure and lateral containment without weighing down the shoe, exactly the compromise sought by those who play on both ends of the court without giving up reactivity. In short: lightness for those who run, structure where needed.