With WNBA All-Star weekend being bigger and better than ever before, the occasion is now a full multi-day event.
In addition to the activities organized by the WNBA itself, there are also plenty of events that brands will organize with many of the league’s top stars to plug new products to the public.
Chicago is the host of this year’s All-Star festivities – as it was in 2022. Wilson Athletics also has its headquarters and its flagship store in Chicago and understood that this was the perfect occasion to hype up a new signature series with one of the W’s brightest young superstars.
Clark first signed with Wilson in 2024 – the year she was drafted first overall by the Indiana Fever.
Per a Wilson press release, the new collection emphasizes performance-driven attributes as opposed to previous releases. Three new basketballs are part of the new collection titled Fuse, Anchor and Poise.
An event highlighting the new line was held at the Wilson Chicago flagship featuring Clark and Wilson President and CEO Carrie Ask. She was named to the top job at Wilson earlier this year. Saturday’s event was emceed by ESPN’s Holly Rowe.
Clark recollected a story she had of the first time she had one of Wilson’s basketballs.
I remember the first Wilson basketball we had. It was an indoor-outdoor ball that basically ended up being destroyed because we only played with it outside. It was actually black and yellow. And I actually remember the day it rolled away down the street and fell in the gutter.
–Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever
One element of Clark that was emphasized throughout the Saturday event at the Wilson flagship store was how she once had a dream to get to where she is now. She wants young kids to have that same dream – and a bit of her through this new collection.
Every young kid dreams of having their own basketball and they want to go to the store and pick out their favorite color.
–Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever
To see where it started, I feel like we’ve crossed every bridge. We’ve done more high-end basketballs, you have this outdoor basketball. We’ve had every color. I feel like it’s something that has brought a lot of people in, whether you’re a boy, whether you’re a girl. Whether you like basketball, whether you don’t like it. I feel like it’s very inviting and it’s very fun and I hope that’s what people have felt through the process and if they can feel a part of me and a part of the dream that I had through the basketball.
–Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever
She remarked that the new collection felt more like an “elevated line” that feels more tailored to elegance and lifestyle. Clark also believed that this new line has more of her personality into these new basketballs.
We were very intentional in reaching out to Caitlin to be the face of basketball for Wilson. When you are in sport, your ability to read the moment quickly, whether you’re playing baseball and it’s the crack of the bat, knowing where that ball is going right away … I would say this team knew it that fast. And they reached out immediately and started figuring out how are we going to make this partnership work. How are we going to make it big for Caitlin and for Wilson at the same time.
–Carrie Ask, Wilson Sporting Goods President and CEO
According to Ask, she felt that what set Wilson apart from other was that it shares a passion that Clark also has to get as many basketballs as possible in the hands of young kids. Ask described Clark as a “force on and off the court.”
Ask also mentioned softball during her remarks and how a well-known aspect of that athletic discipline from her youth shapes how she approaches her job as Wilson’s president and CEO.
When I was growing up in girls softball, they had a rule called Rover. And that meant you went where the coach thought you needed to go. And I think that idea that I learned very young as a girl in sport is how I think about my job at Wilson. As CEO, I need to go where the team needs me to be to help them be successful.
–Carrie Ask, Wilson Sporting Goods President and CEO
Ask expressed how proud she is of Wilson for its history of consistently supporting women athletes – including Serena Williams.
We’re so incredibly proud of this partnership and what it can do for the sport, what it can do for inspiring more people to pick up a ball and go play. But I can honestly say Wilson is dedicated itself to supporting female athletes along the progression of sport.
–Carrie Ask, Wilson Sporting Goods President and CEO
A portion of Saturday’s gathering also mentioned how the season is going for the Indiana Fever. Clark’s team entered the All-Star break at 17-10 and would be the fifth seed if the playoffs were to begin today – and on a three-game winning streak. It has also been noted that Clark has amassed enough technical fouls to be one shy of a one-game suspension.
She was injured for most of last season but has returned this season for Indiana to solidify its big three that includes her, Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell. Clark also mentions that as one of the WNBA’s marquee faces that she has been asked plenty of times about the W’s 30th anniversary – and where she sees the league being in the next 30 years.
I feel like never really missed my stride coming back into this year and got right back into it. And I feel like the Fever are playing the best basketball we’ve played this season until the All-Star break. So, (I’m) excited about the 17 games that we have left and I think, speaking to the WNBA, obviously this is our 30th season. I’ve been asked this a lot this weekend – that’s a relatively short amount of time. That’s really not that long so it’s pretty incredible to see where the WNBA is from where it started 30 years ago.
–Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever
The new Wilson x Clark line is slated to be available at Wilson locations, online and at other retailers on August 19.
