Caitlin Clark admits she was unaware of Ice Cube’s $5million pitch for her to join the Big3 League until learning about it ‘at the exact same time you all did’.
Ice Cube, who founded Big3 along with entertainment chief Jeff Kwatinetz, confirmed the ‘historic’ offer on the table for the college basketball sensation to join his three-on-three league this year earlier this week.
However, the hip-hop legend will have to wait a little longer to find out if Clark is interested.
Speaking ahead of Iowa‘s Sweet 16 showdown with Colorado at March Madness, the 22-year-old stressed that her focus is solely on the tournament right now while addressing Big3’s offer for the first time.
After revealing that she only heard about the opportunity at the same time as the public, Clark continued: ‘I honestly don’t talk about those things with really anybody. I have other people that deal with it. They haven’t said a word to me about it.
Caitlin Clark admits she was unaware of Ice Cube’s $5million pitch for her to join Big3
Ice Cube took to social media this week to confirm reports of Big3’s ‘historic’ offer for Clark
But the Iowa sensation insists she is keeping her focus purely on March Madness
‘And, my main focus is on this team and helping us find a way to beat Colorado and hopefully win another one after that.’
Clark has been offered seven figures to play up to 10 games in Big3, which includes eight regular-season games and two potential playoff fixtures.
She would also receive ‘substantial additional compensation’ from any sponsorship or merchandise deals, while league chiefs would allow her to play in the WNBA amid her plan to enter this year’s draft.
Only two regular-season games in the WNBA would conflict with the Big3 schedule, giving her the chance to pocket $5m at no detriment to her professional ambitions.
In comparison, the WNBA’s highest earner last season was Erica Wheeler, who collected $242,000. While she is expected to take home slightly more herself next season, Clark can pocket almost 20 times as much by signing up to Big3.
Ice Cube wrote on X after reports of the offer to Clark first surfaced: ‘We intended the offer to remain private while Caitlin Clark plays for the championship. But I won’t deny what’s now already out there.
‘BIG3 made a historic offer to Caitlin Clark. Why wouldn’t we? Caitlin is a generational athlete who can achieve tremendous success in the BIG3.’
The NWA icon then made an appearance on the Pat McAfee show earlier this week, where he expanded on Big3’s aim to recruit the all-time leading NCAA scorer.
Clark and Iowa are set to take on Colorado at the Sweet 16 stage of March Madness
‘This is a special situation, a special player that’s moving the needle in a lot of different areas, you know, ratings, attendance, ticket sales,’ he said.
‘Of course, our sponsors are very interested in a player like this. This is our first look at planning to go after this aggressively because we know it would move the needle in the league and that’s where we wanna be.’
Despite the riches on offer, Clark has been advised to reject Big3’s advances and keep her sights on playing in the WNBA by former NBA star Reggie Theus.
‘There’s nothing like playing in the Big3,’ Theus told TMZ Sports. ‘The Big3 would be a tremendous challenge.
‘Obviously, growing up she wanted to be in the WNBA, so that’s a dream of hers. It’s a tough choice.’