They wanted you to be unaware of this huge secret. Caitlin Clark received an incredible $75 million contract from the Unrivaled League, which is so large that WNBA salaries seem insignificant. Why Was It Hidden, and Why Are Sportsmen Like Angel Reese Distressed? This leak is an earthquake.
There are contracts in the world of professional sports, but there are also profound declarations of value that completely change an industry. Caitlin Clark received an incredible, Lionel Messi-like $75 million offer to join Unrivaled, the new 3-on-3 women’s basketball league, according to a shocking report that was recently leaked. This isn’t just a contract; it’s a calculated explosion that has revealed women’s basketball’s severe financial problems and sent shockwaves of resentment and jealousy throughout the WNBA.
Even in its 28th season, the WNBA has struggled to get the mainstream audience and money that its talent merits. Then Caitlin Clark showed up. She was a miracle gift from the basketball gods, turning into a commercial goldmine in just one rookie season. Attendance at the arena increased by 50%. To accommodate the hordes of fans eager to see her play, venues were altered. Her jersey set sales records, and her games regularly attracted over a million viewers—a record for the league. Clark was a phenomenon, not just a player. Additionally, WNBA players Breanna Stewart and Nafessa Collier, two of Unrivaled’s founders, were closely observing.
”Where is Caitlin Clark?” was a persistent question that surfaced on social media and in sports broadcasts for months after Unrivaled revealed its roster. Her absence was puzzling since 26 of its 30 players were named. For many fans, it was a huge oversight and a slap in the face to the one person who was solely responsible for the popularity of the sport. However, this was not a coincidence.
It was a planned tactic. Instead of ignoring Clark, Stewart and her group were escalating hostilities. They were aware that her announcement couldn’t be a simple addition to a list. It had to be an occasion. They kept their operations under wraps, enforcing a strict non-disclosure clause, allowing the public to speculate before going on strike when the time was appropriate.
The magnitude of their ambition was eventually revealed when a $75 million bid was disclosed. The goal of this deal was to make Clark the undisputed face of the new league—a player, an ambassador, and a marketing machine all at once. It contained exclusive TV rights, substantial sponsorship deals, and a huge set salary. The To understand the significance of this figure, one only needs to consider the current situation of the WNBA. A’ja Wilson, the current MVP, makes about $230,000 annually. Clark’s offer from Unrivaled was more than just a pay increase; it was a complete paradigm shift, with a salary more than 20 times that of seasoned, championship-winning players. This is a “new level” deal.
Unrivaled’s own power moves, particularly a new television agreement with TNT Sports, supported this enormous offer. This exclusive media rights agreement is reportedly a 6-year deal potentially worth over $100 million, set to feature 45-plus primetime games. The message is very clear: Caitlin Clark is seen by Unrivaled and TNT as the key to opening the door for women’s basketball to become a premier, primetime sensation.
This leak has had immediate and severe repercussions. The enormous amount has come to serve as a “sobering reminder of the huge financial gaps in the sport.” WNBA players have battled for more money and a larger portion of the revenue share for years. They are now compelled to witness a rookie obtain a “golden ticket” that is so far beyond their wildest expectations that it is understandable that this has led to resentment.
Angel Reese, for example, reportedly voiced her displeasure on social media, implying that the years of labor that veterans had put in to develop the sport were being overshadowed by one player’s enormous contract. Seeing a rookie offered a contract this size is difficult for players making between $150,000 and $200,000. It outlines the new league’s bankroll priorities in clear terms.
This was not the first public declaration of Clark’s worth. Ice Cube, a rapper and the founder of the Big3 league, had previously made her an enormous offer to join his 3-on-3 men’s league. The amount was reportedly six times greater than what his best players, many of whom were former NBA stars, were making. Unrepentant, Cube claimed that he was willing to upend his own league in order to win Clark because he saw a value in her that went beyond gender and sports traditions.
But in an intriguing turn of events, Clark declined Ice Cube’s offer in favor of staying in the WNBA. Making this choice prior to the Unrivaled offer was a strong show of allegiance. It demonstrated that she was dedicated to expanding the WNBA from the inside out and wasn’t just driven by a fast paycheck.
The Unrivaled offer is so strategic because of this very act of loyalty. They recognized that they were working with a generational talent who prioritized the sport after witnessing her dedication. They therefore returned with an unquestionable offer—a $75 million mega-deal that set an entirely new standard—rather than just a good one.
Now, Caitlin Clark has to make a decision that will define her career. Her devotion to the WNBA, the league she selected, on the one hand. On the other hand, she received a ground-breaking $75 million contract from a brand-new league designed to make her its star, along with a huge primetime TNT agreement. The warning has been sent to the WNBA. The “Clark effect” now involves resetting the sport’s entire financial destiny, not just ticket sales. One thing is certain as the sports world hangs its breath: women’s basketball will never be the same.
