The future of women’s basketball could be on the brink of a seismic shift, and all eyes are on Caitlin Clark. The rookie sensation, hailed as one of the most marketable athletes in the world, is reportedly the target of a massive offer from a brand-new league that could pull her away from the WNBA — and change the sport forever.
The Unrivaled Women’s Basketball League, set to debut in January 2025, is making an aggressive play to sign Clark as the face of its inaugural season. With a fast-paced 3-on-3, full-court format and a roster already stacked with 26 high-profile players, the league wants Clark to be the centerpiece of its marketing push — much like Lionel Messi’s transformative arrival in Major League Soccer.
Sources say the offer could be worth close to $1 million for less than three months of play, along with equity stakes and revenue-sharing opportunities. For a player currently earning a $76,535 base salary in the WNBA, the jump is staggering. Even with her lucrative endorsements from Nike, State Farm, Gatorade, Wilson, Bose, and Buick, Clark has yet to see this level of direct compensation from a basketball contract.
The comparison to Messi’s historic MLS deal is deliberate. When Inter Miami courted the soccer legend, they offered not just a salary but partial team ownership, revenue cuts from Apple’s MLS Season Pass, and other incentives that made his move inevitable. Unrivaled wants to replicate that same high-impact “Messi effect” — only this time, in women’s basketball.
And if anyone can deliver that kind of star power, it’s Caitlin Clark. Recently ranked the fourth most marketable athlete in the world — ahead of Messi himself — Clark has brought an unprecedented surge of attention, ticket sales, and TV ratings to the WNBA. Some venues have even been forced to relocate games to larger arenas when she’s in town.
“It’s just crazy,” said Nafisa Collier, one of Unrivaled’s co-founders. “The growth Caitlin has brought to the game, the money she’s making for teams — and yet she’s only being paid $75,000 a year. She should be one of the top-paid players in the world.”
The league’s founders, including WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Collier, are promising the highest average salaries in professional women’s sports history. Players will also receive ownership opportunities — a rare move in pro athletics — with compensation based on influence and reach. And by those metrics, Clark is unmatched.
But money isn’t the only factor. The offer would have Clark spending her winter in sunny Miami rather than in icy Iowa, a lifestyle upgrade few would turn down. The season would run just eight weeks, leaving her free for other commitments — or rest — for most of the year.
Still, the decision is far from simple. While Unrivaled’s offer is historic, critics warn that leaving the WNBA could hurt the momentum women’s basketball has built. Others argue the WNBA has failed to fully recognize Clark’s value, treating her as “just another player” despite her being the clear driver of ticket sales, broadcast ratings, and sponsorship interest.
What’s clear is that the WNBA would feel her absence immediately. Clark’s departure could trigger a chain reaction of fan disengagement, reduced TV audiences, and less sponsor interest. Some say the league might not collapse, but it would take a hit it could never fully recover from.
Unrivaled, for its part, has already secured a multi-year broadcast deal with TNT Sports, with games also airing on TruTV and streaming on Max. If Clark signs, those ratings are expected to soar, potentially putting the fledgling league on the map in its very first season.
Back in March, Ice Cube’s Big3 league reportedly offered Clark $5 million for just eight games — an offer she turned down. That move showed that money alone won’t dictate her choices. For Clark, it’s about legacy, health, and the right competitive environment.
In a recent video posted by the Indiana Fever, Clark was seen back in the gym, working through drills. “I feel like I’m just scratching the surface,” she said. “There are so many areas I want to improve in, and I’m working on that every single day.”
Now, the question is whether that hard work is for another WNBA season — or for something entirely new. If she joins Unrivaled, she could form a powerhouse team alongside other rising stars like Angel Reese or Kelsey Plum, instantly shaking the basketball landscape.
Whatever she decides, one thing is certain: the ball is in Caitlin Clark’s court, and the choice she makes could redefine the future of women’s basketball.
