Over two million pairs of eyes were on Caitlin Clark as she made her WNBA debut. It was a rocky one, as the Sun handled the Fever 92-71. Clark scored 20, though she added a debut record of 10 turnovers — not an ideal start for the No. 1 Draft pick, but perhaps a “welcome to the league” moment she’ll remember for Indiana’s 39 remaining games.
Regardless of how imperfect Clark’s first game was, it was a moment that helped mark a new era of the league.
As expected, Clark’s debut was notable, and her sponsorships didn’t pass up on the chance to play their part, acknowledging all that she’s done and will do. Gatorade made sure to do just that.
Here’s a closer look at the company’s WNBA opening night commercial celebrating the rookie.
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Caitlin Clark Gatorade commercial
Gatorade’s latest commercial surrounding Clark debuted during her first WNBA game with the Fever. They kept it simple, highlighting her biggest collegiate accomplishments while Clark practices 3-pointers. They ended it with a simple message – “Caitlin is just getting started.”
The new Caitlin Clark x Gatorade commercial is beautifully done, wow 🔥 pic.twitter.com/gh0sJkuqVF
— Bri Lewerke (@brilewerke) May 15, 2024
That wasn’t all Gatorade had in store for Clark, either. The brand also installed a 150-foot banner with the same motto, “It is just getting started,” in downtown Indianapolis.
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) May 16, 2024
Clark inked a deal with Gatorade while at Iowa in December of 2023. She became the second college women’s basketball player, following Paige Bueckers, to sign with the company. As part of the deal, Gatorade donated $22,000 to the Caitlin Clark Foundation.
Her first commercial with the sports drink was a nod to her younger self and young girls who aspire to play basketball. “You Can Too” was the ad’s message.
Gatorade is one of Clark’s many high-profile partnerships. Jake From State Farm joined Clark at the 2024 WNBA Draft, and Nike put billboards around Iowa City to honor the Hawkeye breaking the NCAA scoring record.
It was estimated she had an NIL valuation
of $3.1 million while at Iowa, but her recent Nike shoe deal is reportedly worth $28 million.
MORE: Timeline, details to know about Caitlin Clark’s Nike shoe deal
While the salary of a WNBA rookie becomes more scrutinized as the conversation gains traction, Clark’s $76,535 salary
is only a portion of the money she’ll earn as a pro.
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