Caitlin Clark to be offered incredible pay raise of 13 times her WNBA salary to join new league | Others | Sport

The newly created Unrivaled Women’s Basketball League is planning to land WNBA star Caitlin Clark with a Lionel Messi-style contract for its inaugural 2025 season. Front Office Sports suggests the league could offer Clark more than $1 million, more of 13 times her current WNBA rookie salary of $76,535 per season, as well as an appearance on Unrivaled.

The league hopes Clark can increase ticket sales, TV ratings and advertising in just three months of work during the WNBA off-season, similar to Messi’s impact at Inter Miami and MLS.

Messi’s groundbreaking move to Miami included a contract worth $150 million, partial future ownership and other financial incentives such as a share of Apple TV’s MLS Pass revenue. With Clark ranked as the fourth most marketable athlete globally by SportsPro, the Unrivaled Women’s Basketball League may be even more motivated to secure her participation.

Set to launch in January 2025 in Miami, the 3-on-3 league will last eight weeks, including playoffs. The warm winter weather in Florida could be an added incentive for Clark to compete rather than endure the Iowa cold.

While a salary of more than $1 million may seem small compared to athletes like Messi and the NBA’s LeBron James, who will earn $48.7 million this season with the Los Angeles Lakers, it represents a significant leap forward for basketball. feminine.

Although she declined to compete in the Unrivaled League alongside her famous rival Angel Reese, standout player Clark profited from lucrative off-court sponsorship and endorsement deals, including an impressive eight-year deal with Nike worth $100. 28 million.

Clark’s offseason is already packed with activities, most notably her upcoming appearance at The Annika, hosted by the LPGA at Pelican Golf Club in Florida. She expressed her enthusiasm for golf and the event: “I love golf, so the opportunity to play professionally in a tournament with a legend like Annika Sorenstam is so exciting,” Clark commented in a recent press release.

Additionally, she highlighted Gainbridge’s incredible support for women in sport, highlighting her support of this event as well as other initiatives such as the Billie Jean King leadership initiative and Parity Week: “Gainbridge is a leader in supporting sport feminine, and that is clear through your commitment to me, this event, Billie Jean King and Parity Week.”

Clark is looking forward to mingling with the LPGA’s elite, attending the Women’s Leadership Summit and participating in the pro-am event with Sorenstam herself: “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 start the pro-am with Annika.”