Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark is currently one of the most influential players in professional basketball. So, it’s no surprise that Unrivaled, a new basketball league co-founded by Minnesota Lynx’s Napheesa Collier and New York Liberty’s Breanna Stewart, is eager to recruit her for its inaugural season starting in Miami in January 2025.
Although Clark has expressed to ESPN’s Ryan Ruocco that she is “almost definitely” not planning to play during the offseason, Unrivaled might have a plan to sway her.
Investor David Levy hinted at a possible Iowa connection if they manage to sign Clark, and Collier teased the possibility of more rookie players joining, which could be a clue.
While the first season of the league is set to be based in Miami with no travel involved, hosting future games in Iowa could entice Clark, given her star status at the University of Iowa from 2020 to 2024.
Clark seems intent on resting after a demanding year that included heavy minutes in the NCAA, WNBA, and WNBA All-Star game. It may take a significant effort to convince her to join Unrivaled’s 3-on-3 league.
However, according to Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports, a “full-court press” campaign is in the works to recruit her. With a newly secured TV deal with TNT Sports, the league plans to approach Clark in the coming weeks to try and get her on board. “Get ready for the full-court press,” a source told Front Office Sports.
