Caitlin Clark set to receive $850 million worth superstar like offer from Unrivaled: Report
Unrivaled is reportedly preparing a multi-million dollar offer for WNBA Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark. Ever since her WNBA debut, Clark has become synonymous with women's basketball. The Indiana Fever star is responsible for the meteoric rise in attendance and viewership in the world's biggest basketball league for women.
As per Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports, Unrivaled, a 3x3 basketball league, is interested in acquiring Clark during the WNBA offseason. They are willing to offer her a deal similar to what the Argentine soccer legend Lionel Messi, who has a net worth of $850 million (via Celebrity Net Worth), got when joining the MLS. The reported deal would include the base salary and equity of a team in the league.
According to Sportico, Messi's deal was worth up to $150 million through salary, signing bonus and equity.
Co-founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, an Unrivaled spokeswoman talked to Front Office Sports about their player salaries:
"Unrivaled is proud to offer the highest average salary in professional women’s sports league history–in addition to offering an equity stake to all athletes competing in the inaugural season.
"While we believe Unrivaled is setting a new standard in the marketplace, we are not disclosing individual player compensation packages or league financials at this time."
According to FOS, the Unrivaled pays players on a sliding scale based on their popularity and marketability. It means that the more the player's popularity and stardom, the more money they will make. Given that rule, Caitlin Clark is likely to receive a large deal if she decides to play in the six-team league.
Clark had an incredible rookie season with the Fever, where she helped the franchise make the playoffs for the first time since 2016 and bag the Rookie of the Year honor. However, Clark's playoff journey came to an end when the Connecticut Sun knocked out the Fever in the first round.
Caitlin Clark complains about one aspect of WNBA at a Nike event
Caitlin Clark attended a Nike event with WNBA legend Sue Bird. During the event, the Indiana Fever star opened up one "downside" of the WNBA.
"The only downside about the WNBA is during the summer. That's when you golf. So I've had my golf take a back seat to basketball," Clark said.
Caitlin Clark even went viral for golfing with her Fever teammate Lexie Hull. Later on during the event, Clark delved deeper into her newfound love for golf and expressed her desire to play with Annika Sorenstam.
"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."