It was a good day: Ice Cube's Big3 extends $5M offer to Caitlin Clark

It was a good day: Ice Cube’s Big3 extends $5M offer to Caitlin Clark،

Michael Voepel, ESPN.comMarch 27, 2024, 4:30 p.m.
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Iowa women's basketball star Caitlin Clark has been offered $5 million to play in Ice Cube's Big3 league, league co-founder Ice Cube said. confirmed on social networks.

“We wanted to keep the offer private while Caitlin Clark plays for the championship,” Ice Cube wrote on wouldn't we?” “Caitlin is a generational athlete who can achieve huge success in the BIG3.

“The doubters laughed when we made Nancy Lieberman the first female coach of a professional men's team and she won the championship in her first year. Then Lisa Leslie won it all in her second year. With our offer, Caitlin Clark can make history and break down even more barriers for female athletes.

Clark, who will play in the NCAA Sweet 16 tournament this weekend in Albany, New York, was not available for comment Wednesday morning. ESPN has contacted its agency, Excel, for comment.

ESPN also contacted the WNBA and the league's players' union to see if Clark could play in another league under the current collective bargaining agreement. A union spokesperson said it was not aware of Big3's offer and could not comment at this time. The league has not yet responded to ESPN.

The league has prioritization rules in its CBA, which may affect some players participating in foreign leagues. But it remains to be seen whether this would prevent Clark from competing in the Big3.

Clark is projected to be the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft on April 15 by the Indiana Fever. WNBA rookie salaries for lottery picks (Nos. 1-4) in 2024 are $76,535 and jump to $97,582 in their fourth season.

Clark already has a sizable endorsement portfolio with companies including Nike, State Farm, Gatorade and Gainbridge, which owns the naming rights to the Indianapolis arena where the WNBA Fever and NBA Pacers play .