Caitlin Clark was offered $5 million to play no more than 10 games in the BIG3 basketball league in addition to her WNBA career with the Indiana Fever. Ice Cube claims that he never even got the chance to speak with her about the opportunity.
He exposed Clark’s agents for how they handled the deal!
For those who are not familiar with the BIG3, it is an alternative hoops league that was founded in 2017. It is a 3-on-3 competition that often features former NBA players like Joe Johnson, Stephen Jackson, Michael Beasley and Chauncey Billups. First team to 21 wins.
BIG3 wanted Caitlin Clark.
In an effort to increase eyeballs on the league, Ice Cube and the BIG3 staff put together a historic offer for the greatest scorer in college basketball history. They offered $5 million to Clark for eight regular season games and potentially two playoff games. The news leaked right in the middle of March Madness, even though it wasn’t supposed to be made public until after Iowa’s final game.
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 offer to Caitlin Clark. Why wouldn’t we? Caitlin is a generational athlete who can achieve tremendous success in the BIG3.
— Ice Cube in March
Clark ultimately declined the deal, which would have required her to play in the Big3 during her time off from the WNBA. Her focus was/is on the Fever.
However, Ice Cube isn’t so sure that it was her decision. The league’s founder and CEO spoke about how things played out with Clark during an appearance on The OGs Podcast with Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller. He thinks that the No. 1 overall pick’s agents were “hating.”
We believe her agents blocked it a little bit. We never got a chance to actually have a conversation with her and her family. The agents really didn’t want to see that happen in our opinion. They make their money off of NBA players, not WNBA players.
— Ice Cube, via The OGs Podcast
Ice Cube also provided more clarity on what the deal entailed. It actually would have paid more than what was initially reported with a larger commitment.
We offered her $5 million to play for two years. So she would’ve walked away with $10 (million) and a little equity here and there, but we knew it was a big step.
— Ice Cube, via The OGs Podcast
For Clark to play with former NBAers and men’s college standouts would have been a unique experiment. Ice Cube is confident that she could have handled it.
Trying to play with the men at the professional level would’ve definitely opened up the minds of a lot of people. Whether she was successful or not, who knows, but we think she could’ve been because we had small guards in our league.
— Ice Cube, via The OGs Podcast
Haters were quick to scoff at the offer. Ice Cube didn’t care. He and BIG3 made history before with Nancy Liberman and Lisa Leslie. They were prepared to do so again
Unfortunately, perhaps because of Caitlin Clark’s agents, we will never get to see that unfold!