Caitlin Clark Receives 'Historic' Multimillion-Dollar Offer, But Not From the WNBA
Caitlin Clark has become one of the biggest names in college basketball history during her tenure at the University of Iowa. Now approaching graduation and preparing for the upcoming WNBA draft, Clark will have different options to choose from in the coming months. Rapper and actor Ice Cube has offered her a lucrative path after leaving school.
On March 27, Ice Cube confirmed on social media that Big3, the basketball league he founded in 2017, has offered Clark a $5 million contract to play in the league. He "intended the offer to remain private" as Clark plays in the women's March Madness tournament but went ahead and acknowledged that a deal was on the table.
"I won't deny what's now already out there: Big3 made a historic offer to Caitlin Clark. Why wouldn't we? Caitlin is a generational athlete who can achieve tremendous success in the Big3," the former N.W.A. rapper said.
We intended the offer to remain private while Caitlin Clark plays for the championship. But I won’t deny what’s now already out there: BIG3 made a historic
— Ice Cube (@icecube) March 27, 2024
offer to Caitlin Clark. Why wouldn’t we? Caitlin is a generational athlete who can achieve tremendous success in the BIG3. https://t.co/cwzHh7EVau
He went on to describe just how big of a move it could be not just for Clark, but for women in basketball as a whole.
"The skeptics laughed when we made Nancy Lieberman the first female coach of a men's pro team, and she won the championship in her first year. Then Lisa Leslie won it all in year two," he said. "With our offer, Caitlin Clark can make history and break down even more barriers for women athletes."
The skeptics laughed when we made Nancy Lieberman the first female coach of a men’s pro team, and she won the championship in her first year. Then Lisa Leslie won it all in year two. With our offer, Caitlin Clark can make history and break down even more barriers for women…
— Ice Cube (@icecube) March 27, 2024
Clark, who has broken records during her college career, is expected to be the Indiana Fever's number-one pick at the WNBA draft on April 15. The WNBA's regular season begins in May, with playoffs starting in September, while the Big3 season runs from mid-June to mid-August. According to CNN, the offer is for up to 10 games, including eight regular season games and two playoff games. Whether she would be able to participate in both remains a question.
When explaining why Clark received the offer, Ice Cube noted that many WNBA athletes, such as Brittney Griner, have to play for teams in other parts in the world in the offseason just to earn money.
"America’s women athletes should not be forced to spend their offseasons playing in often dismal and dubious foreign countries just to make ends meet," the rapper said. "And they should have more than just one professional option in the U.S. at a time when American pro sports leagues are being infiltrated by autocratic, anti-women regimes such as Qatar. Our pathbreaking offer to Caitlin Clark demonstrates that Big3 now offers another choice for athletes."
America’s women athletes should not be forced to spend their off seasons playing in often dismal and dubious foreign countries just to make ends meet.
— Ice Cube (@icecube) March 27, 2024
And they should have more than just one professional option in the US at a time when American pro sports leagues are being infiltrated by autocratic, anti-women regimes such as Qatar. Our pathbreaking offer to Caitlin Clark demonstrates that BIG3 now offers another choice for…
— Ice Cube (@icecube) March 27, 2024
Just how Clark structures her professional career post-graduation remains to be seen.