Unrivaled Temporarily Postpones Caitlin Clark Plans After Fever Star Allegedly Belittled $15M Paycheck

At last, the weight of a rushed comeback is lifted off Caitlin Clark. The Indiana star is the “needle-mover” of the WNBA. It has its advantages, but it brings pressure that no athlete in the league can relate to. The right groin injury, along with multiple soft tissue injuries, made things too complicated for her to return within weeks. Now she can give 100% to her recovery in the offseason and continue ramping up. Will that process involve a stop on the way to Unrivaled? Apparently, it’s yet to be decided.

Last year, the Big3 offered Clark as high as $15 million to play in their 3 vs 3 league, but Clark wasn’t impressed. “We offered Caitlin Clark $15 million… It started at $5 [million]. But the official final offer was $15 million for 10 weeks!” Tattoo “The Voice” of BIG3″, said in a recent interview. Even Unrivaled tried to get Clark with a contract exceeding $1 million, with other incentives for the three-month league. FOS described it as a “Lionel Messi-like” offer. Clark declined it then, and the league is taking a measured approach to sign her for 2026.

Unrivaled President Alex Bazzell, the husband of Lynx C and league co-founder Napheesa Collier, said via Sports Business Journal, “How we approach it is we don’t really apply pressure. Everyone who’s not currently in the league and who’s a top player, not just her, knows we’re a phone call away. It doesn’t mean there’s always going to be a spot because we have to fill spots… But she’s one of the rare players who– she was first-team all-W last year. She’s a great player. So we haven’t really approached those conversations. We aren’t in conversations.”

Clark was spotted doing 5 vs 0 reps before she was completely ruled. The point guard is on her way to a recovery, but the timeline is still unknown. The 2026 Unrivaled will likely start in January, giving Clark enough time. Playing in it will also give her a taste of competitive basketball while keeping it light in the 3v3 league. It looks like a good opportunity, but Bazzell is giving Clark her space.

He further said, “Do I think she should play this off-season? Yeah, I do think she should play somewhere. Obviously, we’d love to have her, but that’s a personal decision that her team, her family will go through.”

(This is a developing story…)

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