Iowa’s Caitlin Clark centered on Candy 16, deflects Big3 discuss

ALBANY, N.Y. — Iowa ladies’s basketball star Caitlin Clark would not have the potential of a $5 million supply on her thoughts. Her ideas are solely on the Hawkeyes and their upcoming Candy 16 opponent, Colorado.

Clark’s Hawkeyes are the No. 1 seed within the Albany 2 Area, and face the No. 5 seed Buffaloes at MVP Enviornment on Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC). Iowa is hoping to make the Ultimate 4 for the second 12 months in a row.

Wednesday, Ice Dice confirmed through social media that Clark had been supplied $5 million to play in his Big3 league. Friday at Iowa’s information convention, Clark was requested about it.

“I came upon concerning the Big3 factor the identical precise time you all did,” Clark mentioned of the discharge of that data on social media. “I truthfully do not discuss these issues with actually anyone. I’ve different folks that take care of it, they usually have not mentioned a phrase to me about it. My principal focus is on this staff and serving to us discover a technique to beat Colorado and hopefully win one other one after that.”

Ice Dice wrote on social media website X on Wednesday, “We supposed the supply to stay non-public whereas Caitlin Clark performs for the championship. However I will not deny what’s now already on the market: BIG3 made a historic supply to Caitlin Clark. Why would not we? Caitlin is a generational athlete who can obtain large success within the BIG3.

“The skeptics laughed once we made Nancy Lieberman the primary feminine coach of a males’s professional staff, and she or he received the championship in her first 12 months. Then Lisa Leslie received all of it in 12 months two. With our supply, Caitlin Clark could make historical past and break down much more limitations for girls athletes.”

The WNBA has prioritization guidelines in its collective bargaining settlement, which might have an effect on some gamers who take part in abroad leagues. Nevertheless it stays to be seen whether or not these would forestall Clark’s Big3 participation — if she is even .

The WNBA had no touch upon Clark and the Big3 league earlier this week, however a spokesperson mentioned: “Caitlin Clark stands to make a half million {dollars} or extra in WNBA earnings this coming season, along with what she’s going to obtain by way of endorsements and different partnerships, which has been reported to already exceed $3 million.” The WNBA’s determine consists of the cash Clark may make in a advertising and marketing settlement with the league, however that’s not assured. Clark, who leads Division I in scoring, assists and 3-pointers, is anticipated to be the WNBA’s No. 1 draft decide on April 15 by the Indiana Fever. WNBA rookie salaries for lottery draft picks (Nos. 1 by way of 4) in 2024 are $76,535 and climb to $97,582 by their fourth season.

Clark already has an endorsement portfolio with firms corresponding to Nike, State Farm, Gatorade and Gainbridge, which has naming rights for the world in Indianapolis the place the WNBA’s Fever and NBA’s Pacers play.

The Iowa senior guard additionally was requested about being invited Thursday to the USA Basketball Olympic coaching camp April 3-5 in Cleveland. If the Hawkeyes advance to the ladies’s Ultimate 4, she will not be capable to attend the camp.

“USA Basketball, that is your dream. You wish to develop up and be on the Olympic staff,” Clark mentioned Friday. “I wish to be on the Ultimate 4 taking part in basketball with my staff, but when not, that is the place I will be. People who find themselves on the [training camp] roster are folks that I idolize. Simply to be prolonged a camp invite is one thing it’s important to be happy with, have fun and luxuriate in.

No dates have been introduced for when the ladies’s U.S. Olympic 5-on-5 and 3×3 groups will probably be named for the Paris Video games, that are July 26-Aug. 11. Clark may very well be named to both staff, however there’s plenty of U.S. veteran depth at guard. The Individuals are going for his or her eighth consecutive 5-on-5 gold medal, they usually received the inaugural 3×3 Olympic event on the Tokyo Video games in 2021.

In all, 9 former Olympians will probably be participating within the Cleveland camp, together with five-time gold medalist Diana Taurasi of the Phoenix Mercury,