Nike Put DEI Ahead of Profits and Failed Historically – Will the Release of Caitlin Clark’s Shoes Save the Company?Nike took way too long to put out the Caitlin Clark shoe. It looks like it would have been smarter to put it out much sooner. The stock price has plummetted and the company is no longer a member of the S&P 500.Nike’s fall began when it made DEI a priority.Nike has put on a clinic on…How to destroy your brand?Go from this to this.Simple. pic.twitter.com/3eOqoKFGrM— C3 (@C_3C_3) September 6, 2026Future generations of marketing classes will look back and ask how Nike could be so stupid.You’re telling me this ad didn’t sell running shoes? I’m shocked. https://t.co/lsWCgu2bp4 pic.twitter.com/XkhEH9bfrT— Aesthetica (@Anc_Aesthetics) September 6, 2026As a result of forgetting that they were a business, they lost money, stock value, and fell out of the S&P 100.Nike went INSANELY WOKE and is now paying the priceNike’s stock is down almost 80% since its record high in 2021.Nike is now being REMOVED from the S&P 100 index after 18 years.It seems Nike took every opportunity to push anti-American wokeness. From Colin Kaepernick… pic.twitter.com/uIqWLVyJDA— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) September 7, 2026Fortunately, although they blundered this as well, the Caitlin Clark shoes may save Nike.Nike says Caitlin Clark’s signature shoe needed time. Fine. Let’s look at the timelines.From public signature-shoe announcement to retail:Sabrina Ionescu: 169 daysAngel Reese: 329 daysA’ja Wilson: 360 daysBreanna Stewart: 492 daysCaitlin Clark: 891 daysAnd while Caitlin waited, Nike also found time to release Paige Bueckers player editions, including her GT Hustle 3 PE in 2024 and the “Shirley Buckets” GT Cut 4 in 2026. Paige’s first PE was announced on December 2 and hit retail five days later.Why did the biggest commercial phenomenon women’s basketball has ever seen have to wait roughly 891 days for her signature shoe while everybody around her kept getting product to market?Nike can defend the 891-day wait all it wants.The stock chart certainly isn’t making the case that every strategic decision coming out of Beaverton was brilliant.Nike says Caitlin Clark’s signature shoe needed time. Fine. Let’s look at the timelines.From public signature-shoe announcement to retail:Sabrina Ionescu: 169 daysAngel Reese: 329 daysA’ja Wilson: 360 daysBreanna Stewart: 492 daysCaitlin Clark: 891 daysAnd while Caitlin… pic.twitter.com/swnbLN8cKO— Sports Patriot (@SportsPatriotUS) September 6, 2026For the record, Aja Wilson’s shoes were a flop. A’JA WILSON HAS THE LOUDEST FANS ON THE INTERNET… UNTIL IT’S TIME TO OPEN THEIR WALLETSAll that arguing. All those think pieces. All that “GOAT” talkMeanwhile her signature shoes are sitting on shelves in multiple colorways like“So… are any of… pic.twitter.com/6P2wgJlq0m— Jason (@letstalkksports) September 5, 2026There is hope for Nike.But Caitlin Clark is one of the top names in sports, both in the US and internationally. She brought millions of new fans to the WNBA and is filling venues across the US and now Europe.Clark’s new blue shoe will be released internationally.Seems Nike has started their international sneaker influencer rollout. Caitlin Clark 1 will be released Oct. 1! Offering worldwide shipping. Could this be the biggest release since the pair of LeBron shoes? pic.twitter.com/0IO6EVf93x— JMac | Ball Up (@Gameis_gameLFG) September 5, 2026Maybe Clark will create the same excitement with Nike that she has with women’s basketball. The post After Putting DEI Ahead of Profits, Will Nike Be Saved by the Release of Caitlin Clark’s Shoes appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.