The million-dollar Caitlin Clark mystery lingers after Unrivaled’s draft

The Unrivaled Caitlin Clark Intrigue Continues!
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Will Caitlin Clark be taking her talents to South Beach?

That’s the $1 million question — quite literally.

As rosters were unveiled Wednesday for Unrivaled Basketball, a 3-on-3 league co-founded by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, Clark’s name remained notably absent.

Fans had speculated the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year ultimately would join Unrivaled, despite her previously saying she would take a break from basketball this offseason.

The official social media account for Unrivaled Basketball only fueled the chatter Tuesday night when it announced its draft on Wednesday would start at 11 a.m. ET and run for 22 minutes, a potential nod to Clark’s jersey number.

Caitlin Clark in action with the Indiana Fever on Sept. 25, 2024.USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

Caitlin Clark speaks at a press conference on Sept. 25, 2024.Getty Images
Clark, fresh off a record-breaking rookie season with the Indiana Fever, reportedly was offered $1 million to be a part of Unrivaled’s inaugural season. That’s a hefty raise when compared to her WNBA rookie salary of $76,535.

But fans will have to continue to wait and see as to whether Clark takes Unrivaled up on the offer.

There are still two spots open among the 36-player field, with the Lunar Owls and Phantom holding onto the “wild card” spots on their rosters.

Phantom coach Adam Harrington, one of the coaches who has an open spot on his team’s roster, said league officials are in talks with several players about filling those positions. Asked specifically about potentially adding Clark, Harrington said she or even Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu would be great candidates for Unrivaled.

“They obviously are amazing needle-movers and incredible young women and basketball players,” Harrington said. “It would be exciting to add players of that caliber and talent. So I’m excited in general for the league and Unrivaled.”

Clark took WNBA by storm and broke numerous records in her first season with the Fever. She became the rookie to record a triple-double, which she did not once but twice. The 2024 top pick also led the league in 3-pointers made (122) and assists (337) and averaged a rookie-high 19.2 points per game.

Stewart and Collier teamed up to launch Unrivaled Basketball with the intention to help keep more WNBA players stateside rather than having to spend their offseasons playing overseas to supplement their incomes. It’s said to pay the highest average salary in any women’s sports league ever and players will receive equity in the league – an important detail that likely will be a point of contention in upcoming collective bargaining agreements with the WNBA.

Angel Reese and Napheesa Collier, both of whom will play in Unrivaled, after a WNBA game on Sept. 1, 2024.NBAE via Getty Images
Unrivaled’s eight-week season is scheduled to tip off Jan. 17 in Miami and is loaded with All-Stars, including Brittney Griner, Arike Ogunbowale and Chelsea Gray.

Angel Reese, the Chicago Sky forward and one of the league’s most popular rookies, also is among the players who will take the court in Unrivaled’s inaugural season.

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Along with Stewart, New York Liberty fans also will have guard Courtney Vandersloot to root for.

More than 45 games are expected to be aired on TNT Sports as part of a multi-year media rights deal between the league and Warner Bros. Discovery reportedly worth $100 million.