"Faster than a blink of an eye": Fans react to instant sellout of Caitlin Clark’s Kobe PE drop

Nike unveiled the Caitlin Clark Kobe 5 "Protro PE" sneaker in a new commercial on Sunday. The shoe was released on Monday and sold out less than a minute after it went online. One fan who tried to claim a pair for themselves was left disappointed after Nike’s website read:

“Missed ‘Em. Thank you for joining the draw for the Kobe V Protro. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out this time.”

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This fan wasn’t alone, as many were left disappointed by the speed at which Clark’s shoe sold out and are now reacting to the instant sellout on social media.

"Faster than a blink of an eye," one fan said.

Another fan said:

Some fans pointed out that resellers were able to grab pairs of Clark's shoes in bulk and are now selling them for as much as $4,000.

One fan said:

Another fan commented:

Is the Caitlin Clark effect behind the WNBA’s recent expansion?

Before the Golden State Valkyries, the Atlanta Dream was the WNBA’s newest expansion team, joining the league in 2008. Since Caitlin Clark made her debut in 2024, the league has added one new team, with five more expansion teams set to join the league by 2030.

Clark’s arrival saw the WNBA make an exponential jump in terms of viewership and the overall attention the league gets. This has also translated to more revenue and sponsorship growth as more and more brands are now investing in women’s basketball.

While the Fever star has benefited the most from her impact, it has undoubtedly made life better for everyone in the WNBA. The league’s newfound attention has given them the confidence and financial security needed to move forward with their expansion.

After 16 years of no growth in team count, the league is now actively expanding, which is clear evidence of the Caitlin Clark effect.

About the author

Sameer is an esports and gaming journalist at Sportskeeda who covers a diverse range of topics. He is currently pursuing a BSc degree from BITS, but his love for video games pushed him to pursue a gaming journalism career. He relies on diligent research and fact-checking to deliver top-notch content. He has previously worked in the hospitality sector with the Oberoi Group.

Sameer’s gaming journey began with Rockstar Games’ GTA franchise, specifically
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories. He strongly prefers multiplayer games, with FPS being his favorite genre, and has devoted 6K+ hours to CS:GO! However, he also dabbles in open-world, story-based games from time to time. Solo RPGs like Horizon Forbidden West hold a soft spot in his heart, and he would readily drop in it given a Jumanji-type scenario.

Sameer makes sure to follow Counter-Strike and Valorant esports tournaments, as he believes that watching a game being played at the highest level can be highly educational. He derives inspiration from Tarik's meteoric rise to become one of the biggest FPS streamers in the world following the release of Valorant.

Outside of work, you can find Sameer playing football or cheering for FC Barcelona. He also likes to read and write poetry.

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Edited by Krutik Jain