Keeping fans on their toes is an art, and nobody does it better than Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese! From Clark turning heads with golf appearances, to Reese defining pop culture with her podcast, the rookie duo have kept busy. But now, there’s a whole new thing to look forward to if you listen to Angel Reese, and we’re certainly excited! Yes, we’re talking about some hot new Reebok drops coming in 2026! But before we get to that part…
Let’s understand timelines here, and how Reebok has been catching up to competitor Nike pretty fast. The former University of Iowa star first signed with Nike in back in 2022, under the NCAA’s NIL (Name, Image and Likeness). Then in April this year, the brand signed the Indiana Fever star to a reported eight-year, $28 million deal, that also includes a signature shoe. However, that isn’t coming out until 2026, as per a Nike Q2 2025 Earnings Call transcript that surfaced on social media this week. And let us tell you, fans are not happy.
Some X users didn’t mince their words when criticizing the brand, with one writing, “Nike was a mistake for Caitlin Clark. I’ve never seen such incompetence,” while another comment read, “Way too late. Holding her hostage with the contract…”
On the flip side, Angel Reese signed with a multiyear contract endorsement extension in October, and a signature shoe release is promised some time in 2026. But don’t worry, Reese’s PEs (player exclusives) are already out, which she reminded fans on December 21. The original tweet was from I talk hoops where they were admiring Bayou Barbie’s PEs, writing, “Angel Reese’s PE shoes >>> 😍🔥✨”. Promptly, Reese shared a tweet flexing the cool designs, while tactfully reminding fans to wait till 2026 for the actual show!
“These are only PE’s!! Wait until 2026 and my actual shoe comes out 🤭,” she wrote. But, don’t think the Player Exclusives were any less eye-catching! One was a Chicago Sky-themed design featuring her bold “A” , while another flaunted a playful pink color with “Barbie” splashed across the upper. And then there was one purple-red shoe that had “Ha Ha Ha Ha” written all over the Mid Sole. One thing’s clear: Each pair is funky, stylish, and full of personality, just like Reese herself. If these PEs are any indication, her signature shoe is going to be a home run. But that’s not all…
The 22-year-old’s marketing mania stretched over all her social media accounts. On December 20, Reese showed off her new Reebok ERS PE that she was also present in the tweet we mentioned earlier. “we love a good PE,” read the caption on Instagram Stories.
Clark, on the other hand, has also been dropping her PE designs on social media from time to time as well. But, unfortunately, fans have been more concerned about the supposed delay that is happening. As per NBA agent, Nike’s hesitation for an earlier release date could be because of A’ja Wilson. Talking on the House of Strauss podcast in September, Nate Jones had said, “I think a lot of it has to do with managing everything that they’re hearing from athletes and fanbase of the WNBA. Maybe even Caitlin herself wants to avoid all that. It’s so controversial that instead of just going for it, I got handed lightning in a bottle and I don’t have a shoe for her rookie year and I’m likely not going to have a shoe for her next year. But, I’ve got the MVP of the league, A’ja Wilson, her shoes coming out. It feels like a lot of this is around avoiding upsetting that, like she can’t go before A’ja.”
For the unversed, Jones is talking about the backlash Nike had received for offering Clark signature shoes, but not A’ja, who had been signed with the brand since 2018 (her rookie year). While she was subsequently offered a signature shoe deal this year slated to be released next year, industry insiders think Nike is keeping the best for last by rolling out Wilson’s apparel first. While this decision might not make sense at first glance, if we look at Nike’s struggles, maybe we can explain it.
The $114.52 billion brand is currently going through a sales and profit slump. Nike posted net income of $1.05 billion, or 70 cents per share, in the quarter that ended August 31, as compared to $1.45 billion, or 94 cents per share, in the year-ago period. Sales also plummeted 10% to $11.59 billion. But if you askn Jones, this ‘save the best for last’ philosophy is as redundant as it can get…
“Who the f**k says she can’t go before A’ja, this is business, this isn’t charity. No matter what you think of A’ja Wilson, it’s obvious that the business opportunity with Caitlin Clark is much more substantial and much less risky.”
Having said that, as much as Reese enjoys her PEs, she also puts in the work on the court.
Angel Reese’s Unrivaled grind
After a wrist injury cut her rookie WNBA season short, Reese is now gearing up for the highly anticipated debut of the Unrivaled League, a groundbreaking 3×3 women’s basketball league set to kick off in January 2025. And she’s not taking any chances.
To prepare, Reese has enlisted elite trainer David Alexander. If his name rings a bell, it’s because he’s trained some of the biggest names in sports, including LeBron James. Alexander shared a clip of their session, captioning it, “𝐇𝐄𝐑! @angelreese5 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟏 / 𝐏𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝟏”.
And Reese isn’t just hitting the gym; she’s putting in marathon hours off the court, too. Earlier this week, she gave fans a sneak peek into her life, sharing a Snapchat story from an 8-hour shoot. “Let the 8 hr shoot BEGINNN,” she wrote, looking a little tired but absolutely determined.
So here we are, both Reese and Clark gearing up for a 2026 sneaker showdown. Reese’s flashy PEs are already building hype, while Clark’s delayed shoe has left her fans frustrated with Nike. When 2026 rolls around, this rivalry isn’t just going to be about hoops. It’s going to be about who can own the sneaker game. Who do you think is going to win? Let us know in the comments below.
