Caitlin Clark fans won't receive Indiana Fever jerseys until August due to Nike blunder
Fans of Caitlin Clark have been dealt with a huge blow, as Fanatics won't be able to ship Nike-made Indiana Fever jerseys with their newest star's name and number on it until August, after selling out in a record amount of time.
That's according to a disclaimer on Fanatics website, as it says that fans who want to pre-order Clark's WNBA jersey now, or in the near future, won't be receiving their items until the end of summer.
The disclaimer says: 'We are currently sold out of our initially batch of this jersey - if you choose to place a pre-order today, our restock will be available to ship in August due to Nike's manufacturing times.'
When clicking on 'pre-order' to buy the jersey, Fanatics' website discloses that the company will ship 'no later than Aug. 14.'
The Fever's first regular season game of the 2024 WNBA season is on May 14. The team's final matchup of the regular season is on September 19, about a month after the jerseys would finally arrive on customers' doorsteps.
Fanatics and Nike are dealing with shipment issues for Caitlin Clark's No. 22 Fever jersey
Clark is expected to play her first 2024 WNBA regular season game with the Fever on May 14
Fanatics and Nike have found themselves in hot water ever since MLB's pre-season started in February, as all 30 teams' jerseys have been blasted by players for looking like knockoffs and ripping more easily than any other uniforms from the past. Players are also complaining about looking too sweaty in them.
'We've purely been doing exactly as we're told - we've been told we've done everything exactly right - and we're getting the s***t kicked out of ourselves every day right now,' Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin said in March as controversy over MLB uniforms first started boiling back then.
'That's not fun. Normally when I get beat up it's because I actually did something wrong.'
The 22-year-old point guard was given a hero's welcome in Indianapolis by fans on Wednesday
On Wednesday, Clark was hailed as a savior in a hero's welcome to Indianapolis.
Her $76,535 salary has also been up for debate since she was drafted, earlier this week, as President Joe Biden called for women to be paid their 'fair share' in sports.
'Women in sports continue to push boundaries and inspire us all. But right now we're seeing that even if you're the best, women are not paid their faire share,' No. 46 said in an X post on Wednesday.
By comparison, the No. 1 men's draft pick, Victor Wembanyama, earned $12,160,680 in his first season with the San Antonio Spurs.
'It’s time that we give our daughters the same opportunities as our sons and ensure women are paid what they deserve,' Biden added.