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Caitlin Clark’s decision to turn down the lucrative Unrivaled League has proven beneficial, fans have claimed. The 23-year-old had a remarkable rookie season with the Indiana Fever in 2024, after being chosen as the first overall pick of the WNBA draft.
By the end of the season, Clark had led the Fever to their first playoff run since 2016, breaking several records along the way. News broke in November that Clark would not participate in Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart’s 3v3 Unrivaled League.
A source close to the league revealed that the young player wanted to focus on her rest and recovery, reportedly stating that she did not require the exposure that the new banner would provide. The tournament, which began earlier this month, is a domestic league offering off-season opportunities for players to supplement their income, promote empowerment, and expand the women’s game.
With a 14-game schedule broadcast on TNT Sports and MAX ahead of the new WNBA season, Unrivaled allows participants to maintain financial stability throughout the year. However, participation clearly comes at a price – affecting a player’s ability to recover from strain before the new WNBA season.
Many fans have taken to social media in recent weeks to discuss how demanding the Unrivaled League is due to its small-team format, suggesting that Clark made the correct decision to prioritise much-needed rest, reports the Irish Star. Taking to X, one wrote: “Caitlin Clark made the right choice opting not to play this inaugural Unrivaled season. This is pretty hectic. I think the rest will serve her well.”
Another said: “The fast pace in Unrivaled got me hooked,” while a third added: “So far Im really liking Unrivaled. The pace and intensity is there.” Clark, who had a taxing end to the WNBA campaign, having joined the fever shortly after her final college game, may appreciate the respite after forgoing the chance to participate in Unrivaled which will run until March 17th.
Despite the demanding schedule, star players such as Angel Reese, Chelsea Gray, Arike Ogunbowale, Jewell Loyd, and Kahleah Copper have embraced the challenge of the accelerated Unrivaled pace. As for Clark, she has the 2025 season in view, anticipating the benefits of an ample off-season.
Her spectacular averages from the past season – 19.2 points, 5.6 turnovers, 1.3 steals, 8.4 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game – combined with her position-leading in assists and three-pointers show promise for an even more successful return. Moreover, Clark’s record-breaking performance of 19 assists in a game against the Dallas Wings signals her potential to scale the heights in her basketball career.
Clark’s impressive performance on the court has earned her a spot as a WNBA All-Star, inclusion in the All-WNBA First Team and the WNBA All-Rookie Team, and she even bagged the prestigious Rookie of the Year award. She was also crowned TIME’s Athlete of the Year.
Basketball enthusiasts will be eagerly watching Clark’s progress on the courts through 2025, particularly with Stephanie White taking over as the team’s new head coach following Christie Sides’ exit late last year.
