Is there even a debate at this point? If there’s one player in the WNBA who embodies that ‘Mamba Mentality’ like Kobe Bryant, it’s Caitlin Clark. No question. From fangirling to preparing ‘his way,’ CC has never been shy about her admiration for the Lakers legend. And what better way to show it than by rocking his kicks on the court? She’s been doing that since college—heck, she even broke the NCAA scoring record wearing the Kobe 5 “Bruce Lee.” So, when the latest ‘shoe news’ dropped, you already know this is just as much a delight for her as it is for us.
Now, before we get into the big announcement, let’s rewind a little. In her rookie year, Clark mostly stuck to general-release Kobe sneakers for a while until Nike started designing exclusive colorways for her during her rookie WNBA season. And one of the best ones? That came right before she made her playoff debut against the Connecticut Sun.
She laced up a sick Indiana Fever-themed Kobe 5 Protro—one that had fans instantly buzzing. Normally, player-exclusive (PE) colorways never make it to stores, but Nike is making an exception this time for their star athlete, whom they just signed to a massive eight-year, $28 million signature sneaker deal.
And this isn’t even the first time Clark has gotten custom Kobe PEs. Back in July 2024, she unveiled a Nike Kobe 5 Protro PE decked out in black and gold, a nod to her Iowa Hawkeyes days and a clear homage to the iconic “Bruce Lee” Kobe 5 she’s worn multiple times.
The Caitlin Clark x Nike Kobe 5 Protro “Indiana Fever” is expected to drop June 1st, 2025 @CaitlinClark22
@brandon1an; @sneakermarketro pic.twitter.com/978twBlWtO
— KicksFinder (@KicksFinder) March 25, 2025
Then in August, she got a sky-blue Nike Kobe 6 PE and even some flashy custom Nike PE golf cleats for her appearance at The Annika Pro-Am. Basically, Nike’s been keeping her sneaker game elite for a while now. Well, now, per KicksFinder, The Caitlin Clark x Nike Kobe 5 Protro “Indiana Fever” is officially dropping on June 1, 2025. The shoe sticks to the Kobe 5’s lightweight and performance-driven legacy but now comes in a fresh Indiana Fever-inspired design.
We’re talking a navy leather upper with crimson laces and university gold accents—crimson and gold details on the tongue, branding, and Swoosh outline, all tying in perfectly with the Fever’s colors. Obviously it still features Flywire support and Zoom Air cushioning, making sure it’s just as game-ready as its previous iterations. Retail price is $190 USD, per Sneaker Bar Detroit
But you know, this comes right after other sneaker news sources like Sole Retriever initially denied the reports that these shoes would actually hit shelves. And we know that CC’s fandom was already giving Nike heat for not dropping a signature shoe for her yet. So, this only added more fuel to the fire.
About the signature shoes, we have a thrilling news, too. The reigning Rookiee of the Year has been spotted at Nike HQ in Oregon, working on her first-ever signature sneaker! Yes, Nike CEO Elliott Hill confirmed it. So, while the Kobe PEs are fire, the fact that she’s getting her own sneaker is worth celebrating.
And you know Clark must be over the moon about all of this. I mean, how could she not be? She’s been repping Kobe’s legacy in every way possible—not just by wearing his kicks, but also by embodying his mindset on and off the court.
When Caitlin Clark recreated an iconic Kobe moment
Before Caitlin Clark became the biggest thing in the WNBA, Kobe Bryant was already a huge advocate for women’s basketball. Maybe that’s why she gravitated toward his style of play in the first place. Throughout her record-breaking season, she consistently laced up Kobe’s signature sneakers, particularly favoring the Kobe 5s and 6s.
But it wasn’t just about what she wore—it was about how she played. Kobe was obsessed with film study, breaking down every little detail of the game to get an edge. “Film study is all about detail… I went from watching what happened to what could have and should have happened,” Bryant once said. Clark followed the same.
As 2008 NBA champion Kendrick Perkins told ESPN, “Kudos to her because that means not only has she been putting in the work behind the scenes but that means she’s been a student of the game and in the film room.” It paid off in a massive way for her. But it goes even beyond that. Clark hasn’t just taken inspiration from Kobe’s game, she’s drawn from his off-court moments too.
Like, the one time she recreated one of his most iconic photos.
Iowa guard Kate Martin (20), Iowa guard Caitlin Clark (22) and Iowa guard Gabbie Marshall (24) pose for a photo after the Big Ten Tournament championship game at the Target Center on Sunday, March 10, 2024, in Minneapolis, Minn.
During her final college season, former Hawkeyes star led Iowa to their third straight Big Ten championship with a 94-89 overtime win over Nebraska. With another trophy secured, photographer Bri Lewerke had a flashback to Kobe’s legendary 2001 post-Finals photo, where he sat in the locker room, trophy in hand, soaking in the moment.
The resemblance between the Big Ten trophy and the Larry O’Brien Trophy was uncanny, and Lewerke asked Clark if she wanted to recreate the shot. She was all in. “I think it’s an opportunity to pay homage to one of the greatest basketball players of all time,” Lewerke later told ESPN. “And Kobe was also a huge supporter of women’s sports and women’s basketball specifically. That tie-in there is really special.”
And that’s what makes this whole Caitlin Clark x Kobe connection so incredible. It’s not just about the sneakers, the style, or even the mentality, it’s about carrying on a legacy. And right now, Caitlin Clark seems to be doing just that.
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