With the WNBA officially in the offseason following a thrilling five-game Finals series, rumblings have begun surrounding the new Unrivaled women’s basketball league possibly presenting Caitlin Clark with an unprecedented offer to join for its inaugural season.
With Clark capturing the WNBA’s Rookie of the Year award and most recently listed as the fourth-most marketable global athlete by SportsPro in London, the start-up league is reportedly poised to offer Clark a salary exceeding $1 million as well as equity and revenue sharing incentives.
Front Office Sports’ Mike McCarthy broke the news of the possible “Messi-like” offer from Unrivaled.
Started by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, the three-on-three women’s basketball league is set to begin its inaugural season in January of 2025 with six five-player teams.
Fellow stars such as Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray and Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese have announced their intentions to play in the six-team league.
In terms of compensation, Unrivaled has promised to utilize a sliding pay scale based on the individual player’s marketability. The eight-week season would not necessarily pose any interference with Clark’s preparation for her sophomore WNBA campaign.
Although Clark could spend her offseason training, enjoying leisure activities, and shooting TV commercials, Unrivaled hopes the combination of a high salary, a stake in the league, and the challenge of playing against the world’s top female players will be too enticing to ignore.
While $1 million is tiny compared to the likes of NBA players, it would be a massive uptick from Clark’s base salary of $76,535 during her rookie season with the Indiana Fever.
Clark earns most of her income through her sponsorship deals, including her eight-year, $28 million Nike contract. During and since her Hawkeye days, Clark has built an excellent corporate sponsor portfolio, including Nike, State Farm, Gatorade, Wilson, Bose, Buick, and other brands.
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