“Players getting death threats daily on her behalf”: A'ja Wilson’s friend calls out Caitlin Clark’s ‘nasty‘ fan-made Nike slogan

A’ja Wilson’s friend, Michael McManus, who is known on X as ‘Deloris,’ went in on Caitlin Clark’s alleged ‘nasty’ Nike slogan. McManus reacted to a fan-made graphic of Clark featuring her new player edition Nike Kobe sneakers.

“Embrace the hate,” the tweet was captioned.

Expand Tweet

Michael McManus went in on the post, treating it as an official Nike ad.

“This is so tone deaf and nasty," McManus wrote. "I’m sorry, but I can’t get behind this or her. Players getting death threats daily on her behalf. Men calling lack women haters on her behalf. Racists using slurs at games on her behalf. Embrace the hate.”

A’ja Wilson’s friend also dragged Kobe Bryant and LeBron James into his rant.

“Kobe and Bron should’ve kept their support on the men’s side," McManus wrote. "This is Ridiculous.”

James has been an avid supporter of Caitlin Clark and often appreciates her talent on social media. He also welcomed Clark back when she returned from injury and recorded 32 points against the New York Liberty on June 14.

Bryant seems to have been mentioned in light of Clark's latest collaboration with Nike. The sneaker giants released the Fever star's Kobe 5 Protro PE on June 30.

Expand Tweet

Caitlin Clark is set to play under Cheryl Reeve at the 2025 WNBA All-Star game

Despite being limited to just nine games, Caitlin Clark has been the topic of debate for much of the 2025 season. The discourse on social media has revolved around her injury, shooting slump, All-Star starter selection, new Nike shoes and her being ranked the No. 9 point guard in the league by her peers.

Clark is back in the news as she is set to play under Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve at this year's All-Star game. Reeve coached Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics and was criticized for her role in leaving Clark off the team.

Now, the two will collaborate as they take on Lynx's star, Napheesa Collier, who has been named as one of two team captains. The All-Star game will take place on July 19 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Clark has missed Indiana's last five games with a groin injury, but she has been participating in practice and will likely be at the All-Star game.

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.

Know More

Edited by nagpaltusharn25