Sports

Caitlin Clark’s Offseason Plans To Play A Lot Of Golf And Actually Relax Reflect Unusual Reality

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Caitlin Clark Offseason Unrivaled Golf
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Caitlin Clark scored 25 points in a season-ending loss to the Connecticut Sun on Wednesday night. Barring a last-minute change of heart, we will not see her play competitive basketball until the WNBA begins its new calendar year in April.

The 22-year-old’s nonexistent plans for the offseason prove that she is the biggest star in the league.

Clark, voted as the runaway Rookie of the Year, is not going to play overseas. Nor is she going to join Unrivaled, a new 3×3 league that has already received commitments from top players like Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier, Arike Ogunbowale, Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum, Angel Reese and even soon-to-be No. 1 overall draft pick Paige Bueckers.

It has been a busy year for Clark. Her senior year at Iowa began in November and continued into early April. The WNBA Draft took place eight days after the national championship. The Indiana Fever played its first preseason game on the third of May. Their season continued, outside of a short break for the Olympics in late July/early August, through Sept. 25. That doesn’t even include all of the public appearances or brand obligations.

Needless to say, Clark has not had time to digest her insane rookie season for herself.

A large number, if not most professional women’s baskeetball players choose to play overseas during the offseason. They often need to do so to make ends meet in terms of finances.

Even Diana Taurasi, widely considered to be the greatest player in WNBA history, played in Moscow, Turkey and Russia from 2005 to 2017. A’ja Wilson, this year’s unanimous MVP, played in China during her first two seasons.

The new Unrivaled league offers an appealing alternative to international competition that allows the athletes to make money during the offseason in their home country. It wanted Clark to join the roster for obvious reasons but she respectfully declined— for now, at least.

Caitlin Clark, who played in the John Deere Classic Pro-Am in July of 2023, has different plans.

Her ability to take the entire offseason to rest, relax and play golf is a testament to her superstar status— which directly correlates to lucrative brand deals. She doesn’t need an additional income. She doesn’t need any additional exposure.

Many of Clark’s teammates don’t have that same luxury and will have to keep hooping with Unrivaled or an international club while the league’s biggest star kicks her feet up and hits the links.