Legendary WNBA Star Thinks Caitlin Clark Should Consider Offer

28/03/2024 19:49

The Big3 offered Caitlin Clark $5 million to join its basketball league after she finishes school. Rebecca Lobo discussed whether the Iowa star should consider the proposal.

On Thursday's First Take, Lobo said she'd advise any of her children to mull over such a financially lucrative opportunity. 

"If someone offers you $5 million to do something that you love, and it's legal, you should at least consider it," Lobo said.

Lobo acknowledged that the offer is "a bit of a publicity stunt." And although Big3 co-founder Ice Cube said it's "definitely doable" for Clark to simultaneously play in his league and the WNBA, Lobo noted that the WNBA's collective bargaining agreement wouldn't allow Clark to play elsewhere during the season.

"But certainly she has more leverage than we've ever seen a player coming out of college have," Lobo added. "Because of the way she's driving ticket sales, because of the way she's driving viewer ratings and TV ratings."

While Jay Williams wouldn't take the offer, he also thinks Clark can use it to her advantage. He wondered if Clark could counter with receiving a revenue share of the Big3's media rights deal.

"f you can get a deal like that on the table, then we're talking," Williams said.

Lobo ultimately still expects Clark to play in the WNBA next season. Her presence could bring more money to the league. 

"I don't really think it's a serious consideration for her to play there in the Big3," she said. "But obviously, this gives a different kind of leverage. And again, we cannot understate the timing of this with the [WNBA] media rights deal being up next year. How she has completely driven eyeballs to the women's game this year, not only for Iowa games, but we've seen it across the women's college landscape.

"She is vitally important in a way that no other player in the women's game has ever been coming out of college."