Caitlin Clark helped turbocharge WNBA attendance, merchandise sales and TV ratings in her rookie season. Could the star do the same for another basketball league?
We may find out. Front Office Sports’ Michael McCarthy reported Wednesday that the new Unrivaled women’s 3-on-3 league is considering a “Lionel Messi-type” deal to attract the Indiana Fever star. That references the mega-package of salary, financial incentives and team equity that Inter Miami CF used to lure the international star Messi to MLS in 2023.
Unrivaled, first announced in July 2023, will begin its eight-week season in January. The league is backed by a wide-ranging group of investors, including former ESPN president John Skipper and former Turner Sports head David Levy, NBA legends Carmelo Anthony and Steve Nash, former soccer star Megan Rapinoe and actor Ashton Kutcher. TNT Sports has both an equity stake and exclusive broadcast rights.
According to McCarthy, Unrivaled’s “full-court press” to land Clark might include financial incentives beyond just her player salary. McCarthy writes, “[T]he startup league is poised to offer Clark everything from a salary possibly exceeding $1 million for less than three months of work, to equity and revenue sharing.”
The league, cofounded by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, promises six-figure pay for players as well as equity opportunities in the league. Unrivaled has already drawn commitments from many WNBA players, including Arike Ogunbowale, Kelsey Plum and Angel Reese.
Clark’s presence would lend more star power to the new league. On the other hand, while the salary is far more than the base pay ($76,535) she earned as a WNBA rookie, it pales in comparison to what she is already earning from endorsements. It might not even match the offer Clark rejected last year from the Big 3 basketball league, which reportedly offered her a two-year, $10 million contract that included team ownership equity, plus half of all merchandise revenues for products featuring her name or likeness.
Given Clark’s busy schedule of offseason training as well as meeting her sponsorship commitments, she might prefer to have the time off, rather than add another commitment to her plate. On the other hand, Unrivaled might make her an offer she can’t refuse.
About Arthur Weinstein
Arthur spends his free time traveling around the U.S. to sporting events, state and national parks, and in search of great restaurants off the beaten path.