Skip Bayless claims that Caitlin Clark is right to skip the Unrivaled 3-on-3 league in January after the Indiana Fever star walked with a target on her back throughout her rookie campaign.
WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart founded the 3-on-3 league to provide an alternative for women’s basketball players who typically play overseas during the offseason to make up for financial gaps.
After the promising competition failed to land Clark on their small, yet star-studded, roster, Bayless took to X to express his thoughts on Clark waving off the reportedly massive offer.
‘Good for Caitlin Clark not playing in this new 3-on-3 league,’ Bayless wrote. ‘After all the jealousy and resentment she felt last season – all the cheap shots and bullying attempts – she made a late-season run at MVP.
‘SHE’S the reason WNBA popularity exploded last season. She doesn’t need 3-on-3,’ he continued.
Skip Bayless claimed that Caitlin Clark was right to turn down the Unrivaled 3-on-3 league
After getting drafted by the Fever with the No 1 overall pick, Clark became a catalyst in the WNBA’s popularity soaring to unprecedented heights. Upon her entry, the league saw records broken for both attendance and viewership numbers.
However, Clark was also on the receiving end of ‘welcome to the league’ moments early into the season.
The most infamous incident was when she got body-checked by veteran guard Chennedy Carter in her first game against college rival Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky.
Clark got hit with five flagrant fouls and a handful of close calls. Four of the five flagrant fouls were committed by the Sky.
Nonetheless, Clark took care of business on the court, leading Indiana to their first playoff appearance since 2016. While the Fever got swept by Connecticut in the first round, Clark won the WNBA Rookie of the Year and made a run for the MVP award to cap off a spectacular campaign.
Bayless insisted Clark dealt with jealousy and resentment while making the WNBA popular
Clark received five of the 30 flagrant fouls in the WNBA during her rookie season with Indiana
In October, Front Office Sports reported that Unrivaled offered Clark a lucrative deal similar to what Inter Miami handed Lionel Messi to bring him over to MLS from Europe.
Furthermore, several of Clark’s friends have already filled roster slots for the league’s inaugural season. Namely Fever teammates Aliyah Boston and Lexie Hull and former Iowa teammate Kate Martin, who was drafted by the Las Vegas Aces this year.
After claims of taking her offseason away from the game were followed by hints of her participation, the plans to get her on board ultimately failed to materialize.
Unrivaled will be based in Miami, Florida, and its inaugural season will begin in January 2025. The league will feature 30 players from the WNBA and NCAA and have the highest average salaries in women’s sports history.
On Oct. 16, Unrivaled announced a multi-year media rights deal with TNT. Games will also be available on Max and truTV.
