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It was reported a few weeks ago that the Unrivaled basketball league was going to use a “Lionel Messi-type offer” to convince Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark to be a part of its debut season in January. Unrivaled is doing its best to make good on that promise according recent developments which include teammates Aliyah Boston and Lexie Hull plus close friend Kate Martin signing on with the league in addition to the “high-level conversations” Clark has had about joining the upstart 3-on-3 league for a $1 million salary — well above the $250,000 player average — according to Tom Friend of the Sports Business Journal . “Sources said Unrivaled has told Clark she can ‘take as long as she wants’ to decide,” Friend wrote.
“...
According to sources, speculation is Clark is leaning “60/40" to saying yes.” “’She has not decided yet..
.there will be a spot for her if she wants it, but she will be paid for what she brings to the league, as much as a new league can afford..
. I think a few weeks we will know,’” Friend’s source stated. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images Unrivaled also increased the league size from 30 to 36 players on Thursday — a sign the buildup for the inaugural season will be much bigger than initially imagined.
While Clark may still decide to pass on the offer and spend the offseason recovering after the whirlwind year she just had between the NCAA and WNBA, it’s clear Unrivaled is pulling out all the stops to land Clark for Year 1 in an attempt to bring as many eyeballs to the league as possible. Friend also reported that though the Fever would prefer Clark not play in the new league, they won’t stand in her way if she desires to do so. Unrivaled, which consists of six teams with six-player rosters, kicks off on Jan.
17 and the league will play its first season in Miami, Florida with plans to play in other locations — possibly Iowa, if Clark signs on — in future seasons. Related: Details of Unrivaled's ‘Lionel Messi-Like’ Caitlin Clark Offer Revealed Related: Caitlin Clark Makes Strong Statement About the Future of the WNBA.
