Unrivaled boss confirms Caitlin Clark decision after breakaway league leaves spot open for WNBA star
By JAKE NISSE
Caitlin Clark's decision to skip the inaugural season of the Unrivaled league has now been confirmed by its president.
Clark, the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year, was reportedly offered $1million to participate in the breakaway league - which recently expanded from 30 players to 36.
But ESPN reported last week that she had rejected the chance to take part, and Unrivaled president Alex Bazell confirmed as such in a new episode of The Ringer WNBA Show.
'We always want to be a home for the best of the best,' said Bazell, who is married to WNBA star and Unrivaled co-founder Napheesa Collier.
'...We went through our negotiations. Inevitably, she needed time this offseason, which we respect, so we hope to see her next year. She won't be playing this year.'
Caitlin Clark will not be participating in the inaugural season of the breakaway Unrivaled league
Unrivaled president Alex Bazell (left), who is married to the league's co-founder Napheesa Collier, confirmed that Clark would be sitting out
Speculation arose that Clark could be joining Unrivaled after the league added six roster spots.
And there were still two wild-card spots left when the ESPN report emerged on November 20.
However, Bazell explained that the expansion decision was more about accommodating Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas.
'Because of [adding six roster spots], we were able to then get AT involved.
'Because originally she was going to go play overseas and then changed her mind... and we're like, 'Well, we gotta figure out a way for AT to play. So people think it was like, 'Well, let's make extra roster spots so we can give ourselves more time to recruit Caitlin'.
'That's not entirely true. It was more about we already have players ready to come in [and] we want to make sure that they're a part of this. At the same time, like, of course, I've been on record saying Caitlin will always have a spot in our league, and that is true, right?'
Clark has been enjoying some golf this offseason but will otherwise use her time off to recharge from a hugely busy basketball schedule this year.
She wrapped up her historic college career on April 7 with Iowa and was drafted by the Indiana Fever just eight days later.
Las Vegas Aces star Kelsey Plum has pulled out of playing in the upcoming Unrivaled season
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About two weeks after that on May 3, she began her pro career and played non-stop until the league paused for the Olympics in late July.
She is not the only WNBA star opting to rest this offseason, as Kelsey Plum announced this week that she was pulling out of Unrivaled.
She announced the news on Instagram, saying, 'I've decided to not take part in the inaugural season of Unrivaled in order to take some more time for myself this offseason.
'I appreciate the league understanding and being so accommodating. I wish the league and all of the players nothing but the best and I'm excited to watch!'
The league begins in January 17 and runs through to March, with the next WNBA season expected to start in May.
Caitlin Clark
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