Caitlin Clark is being given the superstar treatment by the Unrivaled Basketball League.
The brand-new three-on-three competition is set to make its debut in January.
Clark has seen a surge in viewers for the WNBAGetty
It is fronted by WNBA Finals rivals Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier.
TNT Sports have invested over $100million into a six-year deal, per Joe Pompliano.
Clark‘s college foe Angel Reese is among the star names who have been tempted to sign up.
And league bosses are preparing a ‘Lionel Messi–like’ deal to get Clark on board, according to Front Office Sports.
In 2023, Inter Miami offered Messi a staggering package including partial ownership and other incentives alongside a $150million contract.
MLS sponsors Apple agreed to a revenue-share agreement from Season Pass such is the soccer great’s appeal.
Clark’s name carries so much weight that Unrivaled needs her far more than she needs the offseason league.
The WNBA Rookie of the Year earned just $76,535 in her Indiana Fever contract, but is set to be offered a $1million-plus deal that includes equity and revenue sharing, per Front Office Sports’ sources.
“It’s just so crazy because the growth that Caitlin has brought to the game, the sheer amount of money that she’s making these teams, people are having to move their venues for when she comes to play,” Collier said after being asked if Unrivaled was in talks with Clark, who also enjoys a record $28million Nike shoe deal.
“And she’s getting paid like $75,000 a year… She should be one of the [top-paid] players in the world just for the sheer numbers she’s bringing.”
Messi was offered a king’s ransom to join Inter MiamiAFP
Reese has signed up for Unrivaled after blasting her WNBA salaryGetty
Reese called out the WNBA during the offseason.
“I just hope you know the WNBA don’t pay my bills at all,” Reese, who is set to earn a salary of $73,439 for her rookie year, said during a live-stream.
“I don’t even think that pays one of my bills. Literally, I’m trying to think of my rent for where I stay at [in Chicago]. I’m gonna do the math real quick.”
Clark aimed her own cheeky shot at the league – this time over scheduling.
“The only downside about the WNBA is [that it’s] during the summer. That’s when you golf,” Clark said during a chat with basketball legend Sue Bird.
“So I’ve had my golf take a back seat to basketball.”
Clark is taking part in a Pro-Am at The Annika after picking up her hobby following the Fever’s playoff exit.
“I love golf so the opportunity to play in the pro-am for a tournament with a legend like Annika Sorenstam’s name on it is so exciting,” Clark said.
“I’m looking forward to seeing all the LPGA players on the driving range, being part of the Women’s Leadership Summit, and, of course, teeing it up in the pro-am with Annika.”
Clark has been enjoying a new sport during the offseasonGetty Images
Part of Unrivaled’s appeal is a player-friendly format with the league based in Miami to eliminate the need for travel.
Clark played nearly a full calendar year of basketball between her final college campaign and rookie season.
“I think that even in a non-Olympic year, you think about All-Star, everybody needs some time after All-Star break, or it’s not a break.” Stewart told The Associated Press.
“Especially following the Olympics, because we’ve never had an Olympics in a 40-game season, except this season.”
WNBA players announced on Monday that they are opting out of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
It means the league and players’ union have less than one year to strike terms in order to avoid a league-wide lockout.
The union is expected to campaign for a 50 per cent overall split of revenues, which also includes ticket sales, merchandise and media rights.
That would bring them in line with the NBA‘s top stars.
“We’re not asking to get paid what the men get paid,” Las Vegas Aces star Kelsey Plum said.
“We’re asking to get paid the same percentage of revenue shared.”
The move could pave the way for bigger contracts as the WNBA capitlizes on an unprecedented level of attention.
