In October 2022, Caitlin Clark was among the five NCAA athletes Nike signed to NIL deals. “I’m pretty selective about who I work with,” she told the press at the time, according to Hawk Central. “I think that’s probably a no-brainer for just about anybody in the world,” the Iowa Hawkeyes guard added. Teaming up with Nike may seem an obvious choice, but earlier that year, Clark inked a deal with a blue chip company that may not have appeared to be a perfect fit — H&R Block. The tax preparation company was able to woo Clark by pledging a $1 million NIL initiative to NCAA women’s athletics called “A Fair Shot.” “They approached me with their campaign and what they were looking to do, and it was an easy yes for me to be a part of it,” Clark told ESPN at the time.
Clark made headlines once again in October 2023 by signing a lucrative NIL deal when she agreed to star in a State Farm commercial. This was notable, as Clark was the first college athlete signed by the prominent insurance company.
A couple of months later, the Hawkeyes star added to her impressive NIL stable by signing with Gatorade in December 2023. Clark told ESPN she was impressed with how Gatorade was focused on helping college athletes in their post-playing careers. As her own college career came to an end, some speculated that Clark would have to take a pay cut when she turned pro.
