Will Caitlin Clark join Unrivaled basketball? Exploring the possibilities

Despite being one of the biggest names in the WNBA this season, Caitlin Clark will not be playing in the inaugural season of Unrivaled. While the reigning Rookie of the Year isn't competing this year, things could change later down the line.

Clark was sought out by the new women's league but opted not to ink a deal. Following the Indiana Fever's exit from the playoffs, the star guard said she planned on enjoying some much-needed downtime. Aside from training for the 2025 season, Clark has regularly been seen on the golf course working on her games.

Caitlin Clark might have declined this year, but she hasn't ruled out playing in Unrivaled in the future. When asked about the new league back in November, she spoke about keeping an open mind in the coming years.

"We'll see," Clark said. "I don't know. Just taking it as it goes, and see if I want to play eventually."

While Clark's participation would have been big for Unrivaled, her declining was the proper decision. If she did play, she would have been playing competitively for nearly a year straight between college, the WNBA and this new venture. Putting that excess strain on her body might have resulted in Clark suffering an injury.

Despite their rising star turning down the opportunity to play, the Fever will still be represented in Unrivaled. Lexie Hull and Aliyah Boston will be among the field of women playing in the first season of this new league.

Unrivaled's debut is right around the corner, as opening night is scheduled for January 17th.

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Unrivaled put together million dollar offer for Caitlin Clark

Even though Caitlin Clark said no, Unrivaled can hang their hat on the fact that they tried hard to secure her. Earlier this year, reports emerged that the Indiana Fever guard was offered a million-dollar contract to compete.

"Clark, fresh off a record-breaking rookie season with the Indiana Fever, reportedly was offered $1 million to be a part of Unrivaled’s inaugural season. That’s a hefty raise when compared to her WNBA rookie salary of $76,535."

After outdoing their original goals, Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart announced that Unrivaled would be expanding in year one. Roster sizes were increased, resulting in "wild cards" spots being revealed.

Amid the expansion news, fans buzzed over the idea of Caitlin Clark taking one of those wild card spots. This did not end up being the case, but big-name players still ended up joining the fold. The last players to ink deals with Unrivaled were fellow rookie Cameron Brink and New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu.

As Unrivaled continues to grow, they'll likely continue to pursue Clark and hope she has a change of heart.