With the Sweet 16 of the women’s NCAA Tournament kicking off on Friday, eyes will be on Iowa senior Caitlin Clark to see if she can lead the Hawkeyes to a national championship in her final collegiate season.
Regardless of what happens, Clark has already announced her intention to go pro after the season. The only question is where. She will likely be the No. 1 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, but she apparently now has another option after departing Iowa.
On Wednesday, TMZ reported that Clark received a $5 million “offer” to join Ice Cube’s Big3 League.
The famous rapper and actor confirmed the report via X, calling Clark “a generational athlete who can achieve tremendous success in the BIG3.” Clark has not responded to the reports.
The Big3 was founded by Ice Cube and Jeff Kwatinetz in 2017. It is a 3-on-3 basketball with 12 teams whose rosters include former NBA and professional players. Notable players have included former NBA All-Stars such as Joe Johnson and Rashard Lewis.
She’d be the first female player in the Big3. The league has previously had female coaches in Nancy Lieberman and Lisa Leslie.
As the all-time Division I scoring leader, Clark is certainly worth the money. She’s also a household name and arguably the most famous college basketball player in America right now.
It appears Clark would receive $5 million to play a maximum of 10 games—eight regular-season games and up to two playoff games—plus additional compensation from merchandising and sponsorships.
By comparison, the highest-paid WNBA player earned $242,000 in 2023 (per Spotrac) across the league’s 40 regular season games.
It’s unclear if Clark could play in both the WNBA and the Big3 League.
Caitlin Clark Big3 Betting Impact?
Assuming the offer is real, Clark likely wouldn’t make a decision until after the NCAA Tournament.
If she accepts a Big3 offer, it could have a significant betting impact on the league.
While not as widely available as the NBA or WNBA, Big3 is available to bet on at some legal U.S. sportsbooks in certain states where sports betting is operational. Check the online sportsbooks in your state to see if they offer Big3 markets.
If Clark joins the Big3, she’d give her new team a massive boost. Whereas many of the league’s players are older retired athletes in their 30s and 40s, Clark is only 22 and just entering the prime of her career.
Not only would Clark have a physical edge over her opponents, but she’s also one of the greatest shooters and scorers in college basketball history. She has the skills to dominate in the Big3’s halfcourt 3-on-3 format, as there’d be fewer defenders on the court.
If Clark joins the league, her team could have good odds to win the Big3 championship. She would also be a popular target for prop bets.
Her presence would draw more national attention to the Big3, attracting more betting interest. It may force more sportsbooks to offer Big3 and expand betting markets to meet increased demand.
Time will tell what Clark does, but she has the potential to put Big3 on the map the same way she did with women’s college basketball.
