Jemele Hill has suggested A’ja Wilson deserves her own signature shoe as well, after it was reported Caitlin Clark would be getting her own line before playing a single game in the WNBA.
Clark, according to The Athletic, is set to become just one of three WNBA players with their own signature shoe, and is also nearing an eight-figure endorsement deal with Nike.
Wilson, meanwhile, is a two-time MVP, two-time champion and five-time All Star, as Hill pointed out, and still does not have her own shoe.
The former ESPN commentator shared a popular meme of an exhausted Popeyes employee alongside a list of Wilson’s accomplishments, suggesting that Wilson has done more than enough to get her own signature shoe.
Wilson is also a New York Times best-selling author with her book ‘Dear Black Girls,’ and was recently named on TIME’s 100 Most Influential People list.
Caitlin Clark is set to receive her own signature shoe from Nike as a WNBA rookie
A’Ja Wilson has yet to receive her own shoe despite winning two MVP awards in the WNBA
Jemele Hill posted this message to X as she bemoaned Wilson not having her own shoe
The other two players with signature shoes – Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu – are white women like Clark.
Hill made it clear that she didn’t object to that trio having their own shoes – just that Wilson deserved it as well.
‘I didn’t say any of these players didn’t deserve their own shoe,’ Hill wrote on X. ‘I’m just surprised arguably the best player in the WNBA — a best-selling author and someone Time put on their 100-most influential list — doesn’t have her own shoe.’
Hill, who formerly worked for ESPN, is seen on March 20 at the “Diarra From Detroit” premiere
Hill’s post was met with a response from former Duke star and popular radio host Doug Gottlieb, who said, ‘Jemele is confusing accomplished and talented with marketable.’
To that, Hill responded, ‘You realize something has to appeal to people on a mass scale to sell a book, right? And to be on the NYT best-seller list.
‘And by the way, I didn’t say any of these ladies didn’t deserve a shoe deal. But I find it curious the best player in the league who has proven to be marketable … doesn’t have one.
Clark will make a meager $76,535 rookie salary with the Fever after signing a four-year, $338,056 deal with the team.
On Wednesday, the phenom was forced to endure an awkward exchange with Indy Star sports columnist Gregg Doyel.
