Why Caitlin Clark is set to turn down $1M offer to play alongside Angel Reese
Caitlin Clark's affinity for golf and need for wanting to enjoy her offseason are reasons why the 22-year-old has declined invitations to play in "unrivaled," a 3-on-3 women's basketball league
Angel Reese has spoken in glowing terms about Caitlin Clark after their trailblazing rookie WNBA campaigns (
Caitlin Clark is set to decline “Unrivaled’s” massive offer to have the sensation play in the offseason basketball league if her previous comments are to be believed.
It was recently reported that ‘Unrivaled’, headed by Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier and New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart, was set to offer Clark a massive offer of over $1 million to play in the offseason league. That is about 1,200 times more than her rookie salary of $76,535.
Stewart and Collier were reportedly banking on Clark’s presence in the league attracting similar attention to how Lionel Messi revitalized Major League Soccer (MLS) after signing with Inter Miami. By transferring to the MLS, Messi was given a contract valued at $150 million, partial future ownership and other financial incentives, including a revenue share from Apple TV’s MLS Pass.
Considering how massive Clark’s profile has become and her impact in bringing more fans to an already burgeoning WNBA, the same could have happened to the 3-on-3 league. However, the 22-year-old will more than likely decline an offer to play in the league – as well as a chance to play alongside rookie phenom Angel Reese in the competition – to pursue another of her passions: Golf.
As soon as the Fever’s WNBA season ended, she outlined her desire to take a break after a long spell which saw her pretty much jump straight from her standout final college season into the WNBA. “I’m gonna play some golf,” she declared.
It’s been reported Clark already declined an offer from “Unrivaled” to focus strictly on maximizing the time she has during the offseason. One of the events on her calendar is participating in the LPGA’s The Annika in Florida next month.
Once it was announced that Clark would be among those competing in the tournament, the Indiana Fever star explained what it meant for her to be partaking in the event. In a statement, Clark shared how excited she was to play with Annika Sorenstam, the namesake of the event.
Caitlin Clark had to settle for a birdie after narrowly missing out on a hole-in-one (
“I love golf so the opportunity to play in the Pro-Am for a tournament with a legend like Annika Sorenstam’s on it is so exciting,” she said at the time. “I’m looking forward to seeing all the LPGA players on the driving range, being part of the Women’s Leadership Summit, and, of course, teeing it up in the pro-am with Annika.
Clark venturing into golf is nothing new for the star guard as she told reporters just how much being on the links meant to her after her season ended. “I’m gonna play some golf. That’s what I’m gonna do until it becomes too cold in Indiana. I’ll become a professional golfer,” Clark admitted.
“So I feel like taking some time to myself and really enjoying that, reflecting back. It was special.” Even though golf is important to her, Clark did leave the door open for a return to basketball at some point, if being on the course proved to be “boring” for her.
“There were a lot of things that this group accomplished that a lot of people probably didn’t think was possible. It’ll definitely be a little weird for me over the course of the first couple of weeks, then I’m sure I’ll get bored and pick up a basketball again,” she concluded.
For now, “Unrivaled” is still looking for four more players to fill out its 30-player roster. There will be six teams of five players, with the four best teams playing in the playoffs.
Additionally, each player will be given a six-figure salary, aimed at helping them supplement their income as a way to keep players in the United States, rather than seeing the biggest stars head overseas. Unrivaled will tip off on Jan. 17, 2025.
