Unrivaled has offered Caitlin Clark a salary exceeding $1 million, along with equity in the league.

Unrivaled, the new 3-on-3 women’s basketball league, is ready to offer Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark over $1 million along with “significant equity” in the league if she decides to join, according to Tom Friend of Sports Business Journal.

The league, which will play during the WNBA offseason, is set to launch in January. Co-founder and four-time WNBA All-Star Napheesa Collier announced on Thursday that the league will increase its player roster from 30 to 36. Most players are expected to earn around $250,000 for the three-month season, which is higher than the current WNBA supermax contract.

Earlier this month, TNT Sports announced it would be the exclusive media rights partner for the league in a deal valued at around $100 million, which includes an equity stake in the venture. Games will be broadcast on Mondays and Fridays on TNT, with additional coverage on truTV.

 

Regarding Clark, sources told SBJ that the WNBA star is considered “60/40” likely to join the league. Unrivaled is actively pursuing some of Clark’s close friends and teammates, including Fever guard Lexie Hull and former Iowa teammate Kate Martin, to entice her. The league is also looking to recruit Fever forward Aliyah Boston as another promising player for its roster.

Unrivaled has already gained commitments from several prominent WNBA stars, including Breanna Stewart, Angel Reese, Chelsea Gray, and Arike Ogunbowale. Therefore, the league views Clark’s involvement not as essential but as a valuable addition that could help propel its success.

 

One league source told SBJ, “They’re not putting pressure on her; they’re focused on developing the league and hope she joins, as her participation would significantly benefit the league.”

“I believe that any player who doesn’t participate this year will find it hard to resist joining once they see the league in action.”

 

There’s no doubt that Clark’s involvement would significantly enhance the league’s visibility. During the 2024 WNBA season, the league attracted 31 audiences of over one million viewers, with 24 of those games featuring Clark or her team.

 

According to the SBJ report, Clark’s decision is influenced by factors related to mental health, stress, and her desire to play. The rookie guard has just come off a long season that began in November 2023 with the Iowa Hawkeyes and continued until the Fever were eliminated from the playoffs in late September.Unrivaled is certainly giving Clark a lot to consider.

A seven-figure salary for just three months of work, along with an equity stake in the league, could be hard to resist. Known for her competitive spirit, it seems unlikely she would want to miss out on the opportunity to play alongside the top women’s basketball players.

 

For this reason, the league doesn’t feel the need to pressure her for a quick decision. Sources indicate she can take her time. However, despite their laid-back approach now, it’s clear they hope to see #22 on the court come January.