Caitlin Clark being aggressively pursued by women’s basketball startup league as WNBA faces potential lockout

Caitlin Clark’s skills are highly sought after.

The women’s basketball star has elevated her sport to unprecedented levels of popularity in both college and the WNBA. At the same time, the WNBA achieved a new viewership record for a finals game when the Liberty defeated the Lynx in Game 5 on Sunday night. However, the league is currently facing crucial negotiations between players and owners.

The WNBPA, the WNBA player’s union, decided to terminate its existing contract with the league this week. As they work towards a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the league, players may seek higher revenue sharing and additional benefits. The current CBA will expire at the end of the upcoming season.

If an agreement is not reached, there is a possibility of a player lockout in the WNBA. Despite improvements in ratings and merchandise sales, reports suggest that the league is projected to experience financial losses this year, without ever having had a profitable year in its history.

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If negotiations between the league and WNBPA turn sour, Clark reportedly has other options available.

A new women’s basketball league startup, Unrivaled, led by current WNBA players Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, is set to launch. Clark could potentially play in Unrivaled alongside the WNBA as the league is scheduled during the WNBA offseason. Unrivaled aims to compete with the WNBA financially, with a distinctive 3-on-3 format as opposed to the traditional 5-on-5. This format emphasizes a smaller number of players, with only 30 players set to participate in the first season.

The 3-on-3 format would elevate Clark’s importance both on and off the court.

If the situation between the league and the WNBPA worsens, Clark might consider joining Unrivaled.

This season, Clark set numerous WNBA records, including the single-season assist record and rookie scoring record, leading the Indiana Fever back to the playoffs for the first time in eight years. Her presence attracted a significant audience to women’s basketball, with the 15 most-watched WNBA games of the season featuring her.

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Reports suggest that Unrivaled is preparing an offer for Clark similar to the deal that brought soccer icon Lionel Messi to the U.S. MLS last year. The new league promises its 30 players the “highest salaries in professional women’s sports league history.”

Connecticut Sun guard DiJonai Carrington (21) fouls Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) in the second half of a WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Aug. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

According to a league spokeswoman quoted by Front Office Sports, Unrivaled will provide the highest average salary in the history of professional women’s sports leagues, alongside an equity stake for all athletes participating in the inaugural season. While Unrivaled aims to set a new standard, individual player compensation packages and league financials remain undisclosed at this time.

Clark’s WNBA salary in her rookie year was $76,535, slated to increase to $78,066 next year. Additionally, the WNBA recently signed an 11-year media rights deal with NBC, Disney, and Amazon Prime, worth approximately $200 million starting in 2026.

During the playoffs, viewership surged by more than 140% prior to the WNBA Finals, marking the highest viewership since the league’s inception in 1997. Clark played a substantial role in this popularity growth, with one of her playoff games attracting 2.5 million viewers individually. She also contributed to breaking the single-game attendance record and challenging NFL games for viewership on multiple occasions.

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