Caitlin Clark, the record-breaking NCAA basketball sensation, finds herself at a crossroads. The BIG3, a professional 3-on-3 summer basketball league founded by hip-hop mogul Ice Cube, has extended an unprecedented offer: $5 million to play in their upcoming season. Meanwhile, the WNBA beckons, with the Indiana Fever poised to select her as the #1 pick in the draft. Let’s explore this historic decision and its implications.
The BIG3’s Bold Move
The Big3, a professional 3-on-3 basketball league featuring retired NBA stars, has ignited a debate about the potential inclusion of women’s basketball players. Recently, Iowa Hawkeyes star Caitlin Clark received a lucrative offer to join the league, and this move has sparked a conversation about the talent gap between the NBA and the NCAA women’s game.
Fueling the fire is a tweet by TMZ Sports (@TMZ_Sports) highlighting comments by former NBA player Kenyon Martin: “Ex-NBA Star Kenyon Martin Says Caitlin Clark ‘Would Not Score 1’ Point In Big3.
Ex-NBA Star Kenyon Martin Says Caitlin Clark 'Would Not Score 1' Point In Big3 | Click to read more 👇 https://t.co/561uUuNy8h
— TMZ Sports (@TMZ_Sports) March 27, 2024
It was later officially confirmed by Ice Cube that BIG3 made an offer to Caitlin.
The BIG3’s offer is straightforward: 10 games for $5 million. A generational athlete like Clark could elevate the league and open new doors for women in professional basketball. But there’s a twist—the BIG3 allows her to simultaneously play in the WNBA.
The WNBA, a trailblazer in women’s sports, has provided a platform for remarkable athletes. Yet, the financial disparity remains glaring. Last year’s highest-paid player, Erica Wheeler, earned $242,000. Clark’s WNBA deal would likely surpass that, but it pales in comparison to the astronomical sum offered by the BIG3.
Caitlin has not confirmed any thing but we might see her appearing in the Big3 while pursuing a WNBA career as well. It is unprecedented and WNBA will surely need to tweak some rules to make it happen. However, the move is in everyone’s interest as a female basketball star in the BIG3 will give a major boost to women’s basketball across the nation. And WNBA will get to reap the reward of this massive publicity drive.
Caitlin Clark: A Scoring Phenom
Clark’s journey to this pivotal moment has been nothing short of remarkable. She shattered records, becoming the all-time scoring leader in NCAA history—surpassing even “Pistol” Pete Maravich’s 54-year-old record. Her electrifying performances drew millions of viewers, reinvigorating women’s college basketball.
Caitlin Clark faces a choice: the traditional path of the WNBA or the uncharted territory of the BIG3. Ice Cube’s league promises exposure, financial rewards, and the chance to play alongside male counterparts. The Fever’s court, on the other hand, awaits her.
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