Caitlin Clark received a $15 million offer to join Ice Cube’s Big3 basketball league, according to co-owner Jeff Kwatinetz. However, Kwatinetz claimed that Clark’s agents did not inform her about the deal.
While Clark is expected to earn around $76,000 in her first WNBA season from her on-court salary, she has also secured a reported $28 million partnership with Nike over the next eight years.
The offer from the Big3 would have provided Clark with a significant upfront payment, making her the first woman to play in a men’s professional basketball league in North America. The deal included a $10 million salary over two years, a percentage of team ownership worth millions, 50% of merchandising revenues from her name and likeness, and ownership of a Big3 documentary with a seven-figure advance.
Although Big3, which began in 2017, has not achieved the same level of popularity as the WNBA or NBA, Clark’s potential addition could have boosted both professional leagues significantly.
Clark has drawn enormous interest into college women’s basketball before leaving for WNBA
Clark is already one of the faces of the WNBA without playing a game for the Indiana Fever
Clark mentioned that she learned about the Big3’s substantial offer around the same time as the public. The Big3 league primarily consists of retired NBA players or those in the twilight of their NBA careers.
The previous season’s champions, the ‘Enemies,’ included players like 38-year-old Nick Young and 35-year-old Jordan Crawford.
According to Kwatinetz, there are suspicions that male agents and executives controlling the sport didn’t inform Clark about the offer or facilitate a meeting with the Big3 to discuss the opportunity.
Clark is set to begin her professional career next month, with ticket prices for her games rising significantly.
Kwatinetz expressed a belief that these representatives prioritize the NBA over individual clients like Clark, given their client list heavily features NBA players.
He also criticized the NBA’s influence, suggesting that it stifles the success of leagues like the Big3, even at the expense of women’s basketball growth.
The Big3’s season is shorter than the WNBA’s, but balancing both leagues concurrently, given their summer schedules, would be challenging. However, considering Clark’s popularity and potential earnings, anything remains possible, although her primary focus will likely be on the WNBA.
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