• Loading stock data...
Sunday, October 26, 2025
Want a chance to win $250 and free FOS gear? Take our quick reader survey. Take the survey here
exclusive
Athletes

Unrivaled Preparing ‘Lionel Messi–Like’ Offer for Caitlin Clark

  • The start-up 3-on-3 league may offer a unique deal similar to the one that brought Messi to Major League Soccer.
  • Unrivaled’s eight-week season tips off in Miami in January.
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Special players attract special contract offers—and compensation. The new Unrivaled women’s basketball league is considering a sweeping “Lionel Messi–like” offer to entice Caitlin Clark to play in the league’s inaugural season, sources tell Front Office Sports.

The start-up league’s “full-court press” to recruit Clark is similar to the push by Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami CF to woo Messi in 2023. The club knew that salary alone was not enough to land the global superstar. So Inter Miami constructed an unprecedented package that included a contract valued at $150 million, partial ownership, and other financial incentives. Apple even agreed to share revenue from MLS Season Pass with the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner.

Clark was just named the fourth-most-marketable athlete in the world by SportsPro in London. (Messi ranks behind her at No. 5.) With her stardom and broad appeal in mind, the start-up league is poised to offer Clark everything from a salary possibly exceeding $1 million for less than three months of work, to equity and revenue sharing, sources say.

Similar to the “Messi Effect” on MLS, Unrivaled hopes a “Caitlin Clark Effect” would drive ticket sales and ratings for TV partner TNT Sports, while attracting blue-chip advertisers.

A million-dollar payday may not sound like much compared to NBA superstars like LeBron James, who’ll make $48.7 million with the Lakers this season. But it would be a fortune compared to Clark’s base salary of $76,535 during her rookie season with the Indiana Fever. Not counting incentives, she’ll make only $338,056 during her first four seasons, according to Spotrac. The WNBA’s highest-paid players for 2025—Jewell Loyd and Arike Ogunbowale—will make only $249,032. Warriors superstar Steph Curry makes $55.8 million. 

Clark’s real income comes off the court. Among other deals, she has an eight-year, $28 million contract with Nike. Since her college days with the Iowa Hawkeyes, she’s built an impressive portfolio of corporate sponsors, including the Swoosh, State Farm, Gatorade, Wilson, Bose, Buick, and other brands. Clark is represented by Excel Sports Management, which also reps Derek Jeter as well as Peyton and Eli Manning (Excel declined to comment for this story).

Clark could easily spend her offseason training, playing golf, and shooting TV commercials. But Unrivaled hopes the combination of a high salary, a stake in the league (all players will receive equity opportunities), and the challenge of hooping against the world’s top female players will entice the 22-year-old point guard. 

Cofounded by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, Unrivaled promises its 30 players the “highest salaries in professional women’s sports league history.” That means a six-figure base salary outside of their equity stakes. But both players and agents have been told up front the league will not take a one-size-fits-all approach toward compensation, say sources. Instead, players will be paid on a sliding scale. The bigger their stardom, the bigger their social media following, the more players will earn. By that standard, there’s no bigger draw than Clark, who drives TV ratings like no athlete since Tiger Woods. To date, 26 of 30 players, including Chelsea Gray and Angel Reese, have announced their intentions to play in the six-team league. On Monday, the WNBA players’ union voted to opt out of the collective bargaining agreement that was supposed to run through 2027.

“Unrivaled is proud to offer the highest average salary in professional women’s sports league history—in addition to offering an equity stake to all athletes competing in the inaugural season,” a league spokeswoman told FOS on Tuesday. “While we believe Unrivaled is setting a new standard in the marketplace, we are not disclosing individual player compensation packages or league financials at this time.” 

Unrivaled will tip off in Miami in January, 2025. The 3-on-3 league’s season will run for eight weeks, including playoffs. There may also be appeal for Clark to spend the coldest part of winter in sunny South Florida rather than wintry Iowa. 

As with Messi, it’s up to Clark. The ball is in her court.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Lamar Jackson’s Practice Status Flip Sparks NFL Investigation

Baltimore could be disciplined for not properly disclosing Lamar Jackson’s status.
September 21, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell before the game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium

NFL Fall Meeting: 7 Big Topics Among Team Owners 

Media, facilities, and labor highlight some of the key areas of concern.
Adam Silver

Congress Wants to Hear from Adam Silver on Gambling Scandal This Week

Silver said he was “deeply disturbed” by the arrests.
Rob Manfred

Canada Could Get MLB Expansion Team, Manfred Says

The league has noted fast-rising fan interest north of the border. 

Featured Today

Ohio State Buckeyes running back Isaiah West (32) runs the ball in the second half at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin

NIL Has Birthed a Third-Party Cottage Industry—and It’s a Mess

There’s no limit to how much players can make from NIL deals.
Christie's
October 21, 2025

Lou Gehrig’s $4M Jersey and the Exploding Sports Memorabilia Market

An ultra-rare sports collection is about to hit the auction block.
@chef__tezz/Instagram
October 19, 2025

Inside the NFL’s Private Chef Network

Private chefs are the unsung architects of player performance.
October 18, 2025

How Vanderbilt Went From SEC Doormat to Dark Horse CFP Candidate

After beating LSU, Clark Lea said: “Internally, we expect to win.”
Terry Rozier

Terry Rozier Will Be Paid Full NBA Salary While on Leave

The Heat are scheduled to pay Rozier $26.6 million for this season. 
Malik Beasley
October 23, 2025

After NBA Gambling Arrests, Where Does Malik Beasley Stand?

Beasley was in line to receive a three-year deal from the Pistons.
Oct 18, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) holds the MVP trophy after defeating the Milwaukee Brewers in game five of the NLCS during the 2025 MLB playoffs at Dodger Stadium.
October 24, 2025

World Series Will Be First to Showcase Ohtani’s Two-Way Skills

The two-way superstar is slated to pitch in the World Series.
Sponsored

How HOKA is Reimagining the NIL Relationship

Fans can now follow their favorite golfers and experience every marquee moment at the Ryder Cup — thanks to innovation from T-Mobile.
October 22, 2025

Michelle Wie West: LPGA Earnings vs Endorsements ‘Leveling Out’

Wie West is now retired and focused on investing.
Malonga
October 21, 2025

Turkish Dispute Could Cloud French Star’s Return to WNBA 

Fenerbahçe needs to give Dominique Malonga a “letter of clearance.”
Keegan Murray
October 21, 2025

$20 Million Per Year Becoming New Baseline for NBA Role Players

Christian Braun signed a five-year deal worth $125 million.
Jamier Brown
October 21, 2025

Judge Temporarily Allows Ohio High Schoolers to Make NIL Deals

Most states do not restrict high school NIL deals.