Unrivaled Officially Confirms Caitlin Clark’s Status As $1 Million From Napheesa Collier’s Husband Still on the Table

“I’m all about growing the women’s game,” said Caitlin Clark once. And through her performance in her rookie year, she has proved what the point guard is capable of. Averaging 19.2 points per game, the 22-year-old has cemented her status among the women’s basketball elites. Unfortunately, as another exciting chapter on her basketball journey was about to start with Unrivaled League, she backed from it. However, another new narrative has been revealed about this situation.

In the recent episode of the ‘Ringer WNBA show’, the president of the Unrivaled League and Napheesa Collier’s husband, Alex Bazell revealed the current status of Caitlin Clark’s place in the league. “At the same time I’ve been on record saying, Caitlin will always have a spot in our league and that is true, like we always want to be the home for the best of the best. Like she also made it to the first team of the WNBA. We went through our negotiations, inadvertently she needed her time in this off-season which we respect. We hope to see her next year. She won’t be playing this year,” said Bazell during the show.

Unrivaled, a player-centric league founded to give athletes greater creative and financial control, has been making waves in the basketball world. With its focus on high-profile matchups, shorter seasons, and unprecedented earning opportunities, the league has already attracted some of the biggest names in women’s basketball. Some of the players who are a part of this league are Kelsey Plum, Brittney Griner, Jewell Loyd, Kahleah Copper, Aliyah Boston, Arike Ogunbowale, Skylar Diggins-Smith and even Clark’s close friends Kate Martin and Lexie Hull.

“The way that me and Naphee announced that we are going from thirty roster spots to thirty-six, and the thing that we are more proud of is that we put the league in a position financially to do those things. Like because of this we are able to get Katie involved as he was originally go and play overseas and changed her mind and said, Hey, I’m available. Like then we figured out for Katie to play.” said Bazell.

The $1 million offer underscores Unrivaled’s commitment to creating opportunities that reflect the market value of top-tier talent. Clark, whose combination of skill, charisma, and marketability has made her a household name, is the perfect candidate for such an investment.

“People think it was like, we were making extra roster spots so that we could give us more time to recruit Caitlin. That’s not entirely true. It was more about, we have players who were ready to come in, that we wanted to make sure were a part of this,” added Bazell during the show.

For Clark, this offer represents yet another milestone in a career already defined by breaking barriers. Whether she ultimately accepts next year remains to be seen, but the mere existence of such an offer confirms what many have already witnessed: she is not just a player, but a phenomenon. However, did you know the domestic vision behind this league?

Domestic vision of the Unrivaled League

The financial struggles of WNBA players have always been under the spotlight. Many players, often spend their offseason competing overseas to earn additional income—a stark reality that highlights the disparity in pay between the WNBA and international leagues. Just take Caitlin Clark’s annual salary of just $73,439 as an example. These grueling schedules can lead to burnout and injuries, raising concerns about the sustainability of such careers.

In response to this issue, the Vice President of Unrivaled Sports Group,  Clare Duwelius unveiled a bold vision aimed at redefining the domestic opportunities for WNBA players.

“When you’re overseas, you go dark, like you can’t activate with brands, you can’t grow your following. It’s in the same vein of taking care of players first. “We wanna provide them the opportunity to stay domestically and hit all of the boxes they maybe weren’t previously hitting. They get time with their family around the holiday season, they get to fill their cup up in that way,” said Duwelius during an interview with The Athletic.

The WNBA season, which runs from May to September, provides players with a platform to showcase their talents and inspire future generations. However, the addition of this league will play a crucial role in elevating women’s sports and creating opportunities for athletes to excel both on and off the court.