Unrivaled Investor Admits Landing Caitlin Clark Would Be Biggest Move for New League
It is probably not an exaggeration to say landing Caitlin Clark would guarantee success for the new Unrivaled Basketball League, which is co-founded by New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier.
That's not to say the upstart 3x3 competition can't still make waves. Unrivaled has already poached a proven WNBA GM and is constructing its own facility aimed at providing the best broadcast product for the audience.
However, it's no secret what Clark brings from an interest standpoint. Which was on display yet again just this week during her participation in an LPGA pro-am.
The Caitlin Clark effect pic.twitter.com/shfo8mWJr9
— Bri Lewerke (@brilewerke) November 13, 2024
And to the credit of those involved in Unrivaled, they have not been shy in expressing their interest in capitalizing on that. The league's President Alex Bazzell is on the record saying they are holding a spot for the Indiana Fever star. While Unrivaled has also reportedly made what is dubbed a "Messi-like" offer to acquire her services.
That transparency continued in a recent episode of Pablo Torre's Meadowlark Media-produced podcast "Pablo Finds Out". One of Torre's guests was Unrivaled investor and former ESPN President John Skipper, who is credited with helping the league acquire its media rights deal with TNT.
Skipper didn't mince words when discussing what Clark's involvement would mean for Unrivaled.
"There are very few instances of where one player in a league brings as much value as [Clark] does," he said. "If you were starting a new league, which we are, in the first game, the most impactful thing that could happen would be that Caitlin Clark would be there and she would be playing."
Pablo Torre Finds Out:
— Caitlin Clark & Lexie Hull News (@22CCnews) November 15, 2024
Is Caitlin Clark Taking Her Talents to Another League?
She may be the most polarizing athlete on the planet, but whatever Caitlin Clark touches still turns to gold. Meadowlark Media CEO John Skipper is a lead investor in Unrivaled — a groundbreaking new… pic.twitter.com/0tGXaKACia
Skipper went on to confirm that the league has been in discussions with the WNBA Rookie of the Year — although he would not provide specifics for obvious reasons, including legal ones that he cited. So there was no confirmation either way about how the courting of Clark may work out.
But it is clear that landing Clark would be a boon for the league and basketball fans, which Unrivaled has no problems saying publicly.
Robin Lundberg is a media veteran and hoops head who has spent the bulk of his career with iconic brands like Sports Illustrated and ESPN. His insights have also been featured on platforms such as Fox and CNN and he can currently be heard hosting shows for Sirius XM and on his burgeoning YouTube show. And now he brings his basketball expertise to Women's Fastbreak on SI!