OT Ice Cube offers Caitlin Clark 5 million dollar contract to join BIG 3 League

[KrAzY3]

She should take the 5 million if it's a legit offer and not some silly performance based thing she can never hit.

It will make women and female basketball players look bad, but it will make her rich.

[Cavsfansince84]

So that's my whole point. What if it doesn't? What if she doesn't look very good? I think that does more harm than good for the WNBA. We already have enough arguments on here about women playing against men and how they wouldn't survive.

I have no opinions on how good she is, if she would be good against men, anything like that. I'm just wondering if she doesn't look good against men how it could effect her future. If it wouldn't effect anything for her, she would have already accepted it... no? Where is the loss in this for her if that isn't be taken into consideration? Sounds like a win win for me if you're right

It means nothing. The wnba has yet to operate at a profit in the 25+ years its been around. The only thing that's really changed in recent years is the amount of coverage its been getting from espn under the guise of equality. Not that I really care how much attention espn gives it but you have almost nothing to lose when you don't even make a profit. The other saying in marketing is that there's no such thing as bad publicity. That's why Kim Kardashian got famous by releasing a sex tape of herself which is what ultimately built the billion $ reality nonsense around her and her sisters. It makes no difference how Caitlin Clark does but for reasons I have already stated on here many times over I think she'll do fine. It's more about the fact that she is out there competing against ex pros than how well she does.

[Black star]

If Caitlin turns down this offer it will be because she doesn't think it's worth her time to join a gimmick league like the Big 3. 5 million is a lot of money but she would be doing a lot more for the Big 3 league's image and standing than the Big 3 could do for her.

Also anyone who thinks this would have any impact on her branding opportunities or marketability is crazy. Serena Williams challenged an average pro men's tennis player when she and her sister were at the start of their dominant run in the 90s and 2000s. He proceeded to beat her easily and then beat her sister just as easily. And what do you know, she went right back to dominating the women's game and was just as marketable as ever on her path to being one of the GOAT female athletes.

The only people who would care about this kind of thing are the people who were never really fans in the first place and just have this weird thing with wanting to see females get put into their place when playing men. Luckily most normal people aren't like this and understand that dominant female athletes are cool regardless of how they perform against their male counterparts.

[KyRo23]

So that's my whole point. What if it doesn't? What if she doesn't look very good? I think that does more harm than good for the WNBA. We already have enough arguments on here about women playing against men and how they wouldn't survive.

I have no opinions on how good she is, if she would be good against men, anything like that. I'm just wondering if she doesn't look good against men how it could effect her future. If it wouldn't effect anything for her, she would have already accepted it... no? Where is the loss in this for her if that isn't be taken into consideration? Sounds like a win win for me if you're right

It means nothing. The wnba has yet to operate at a profit in the 25+ years its been around. The only thing that's really changed in recent years is the amount of coverage its been getting from espn under the guise of equality. Not that I really care how much attention espn gives it but you have almost nothing to lose when you don't even make a profit. The other saying in marketing is that there's no such thing as bad publicity. That's why Kim Kardashian got famous by releasing a sex tape of herself which is what ultimately built the billion $ reality nonsense around her and her sisters. It makes no difference how Caitlin Clark does but for reasons I have already stated on here many times over I think she'll do fine. It's more about the fact that she is out there competing against ex pros than how well she does.

I guess I'm just not understanding where the downside is if what you're saying is true. If you are correct, she will 100% accept it, since there is no losing for her. I guess we will see

[Cavsfansince84]

I guess I'm just not understanding where the downside is if what you're saying is true. If you are correct, she will 100% accept it, since there is no losing for her. I guess we will see

It's still her decision to make. She may not want the pressure of being the first woman to do something like this and the wnba/espn may talk her out of it on the basis that they aren't on good terms with big 3.

[dc]

Also anyone who thinks this would have any impact on her branding opportunities or marketability is crazy. Serena Williams challenged an average pro men's tennis player when she and her sister were at the start of their dominant run in the 90s and 2000s. He proceeded to beat her easily and then beat her sister just as easily. And what do you know, she went right back to dominating the women's game and was just as marketable as ever on her path to being one of the GOAT female athletes.

Those matches against Karsten Braasch were just impromptu pickup games that didn't even have linespersons or an umpire. They weren't televised or any kind of sanctioned event. It's just that the people who participated in it all confirm what happened.

[firedavidkahn]

Even someone like Thannasis would dominate players like Caitlin Clark. The athletic difference is just way too drastic.

The only role Clark could potentially have is someone who plays a few minutes max and shoots a 3.

[Clav]

If from a business decision - yeah, take the money.
If WNBA and Big3 can agree to let Clark miss X games for Big3 appearances, [or DNP-Personal Reasons?], and travel to-and-from Big3 locations to then play WNBA games, it can work. [If drafted by Indiana at No. 1, she will have to target only two games that occur on the SAME day July 14th at Minnesota Lynx and August 18th vs Seattle]

Almost every weekend though... Friday nights she would be flying to Big3 match, then flying back to WNBA squad Sat night.

I see what you're saying, but do you think it's a good business decision if she doesn't play well in the Big3? That could end up hurting her business wise. I think the lore of her is part of why she is so marketable. The TALK about how she could be against men is probably more effective than her actually playing against them. If she ends up getting cooked against men in the Big3, it could have a negative effect on her

I can see that, yes. Some people may knock her, I cannot control that. Yeah it could happen, I accept. Personally, I'd give her props for trying because I've taken it on the chin professionally and personally and it has made me better today. I appreciate that there are other options on the table for her, and probably soon, for other athletes as well. It's the journey, right, not the destination.

I'm a lifelong guitarist, and challenging myself is a big part of playing music. I have had some bad gigs. You know, it sucks to perform on stage and bomb. Thats the artist equivalent of 'getting cooked'. People don't enjoy it. I didn't enjoy it either. The thing about showbiz is... the show must go on. Bombing or getting cooked doesn't mean your story is over, you book another gig, or get back on the court and play.

[stillgotgame]

$5 million to play 10 games against a bunch of 45-50 year old has beens? This is a no-brainer, hope she does it.
She can shoot, she can handle. I wouldn't worry about her. I'd be worried about the guys she's gonna embarrass.

[Cavsfansince84]

Even someone like Thannasis would dominate players like Caitlin Clark. The athletic difference is just way too drastic.

The only role Clark could potentially have is someone who plays a few minutes max and shoots a 3.

Some of you just do not understand that pro sports leagues are first and foremost a business. Then on top of that comparing current nba players who are among the more athletic in the league to dudes that washed out of the league 5-10 years ago and are only in good enough shape to play in glorified exhibition games. Then on top of that the league wants her to do well enough to be able to play and bring in viewers. How does this not compute in some of your heads yet?

[JustBuzzin]

The WNBA is were her spotlight ends sadly. The entire league is cheap, they travel and stay at low quality hotels. Like Cmon bruh take the Big 3 offer and don't look back!

She can be the face of that league and make way more money than going to the WNBA.

[Dr Aki]

The rookie salary for a #1 pick is like $70,000. And WNBA teams have a HARD salary cap to deal with.

Even if the BIG3 contact doesn't get anywhere close to 5 mil, there's almost zero reason not to go for it for a year.

[WarriorGM]

The more I think of it the more I think she should do it.

She may end up a flash in the pan much like an Olympic star. Hot for that one moment in time and then largely forgotten. Need to strike while the iron is hot. The only reason not to do it really is if her other potential endorsement deals are bigger and there is the feeling they might be damaged.

And if she isn't just a temporary blip on our consciousness but has staying power? Then she can still do stuff and raise her profile further after this short detour.

[Roscoe Sheed]

I don't believe Ice Cube is serious with this offer and it isn't fair to Clark either in that the physical mismatches she would face would be too difficult to overcome and therefore make her look bad- almost like the situation would be an effort to humiliate her. If he is indeed serious, she should reject the offer immediately and just pursue the WNBA. I hope the league grows in popularity because of her- they are great athletes in their own right and deserve credit and attention.

[shrink]

I suspect she can’t play 10 games in the Big 3 (which begins June 15th) and also play for Team USA in the Olympics (August 7).

In fact, she said she would follow up on the invite from Team USA if she wasn’t going to the Final Four next weekend.

The Olympics would solidify her as “USA’s Caitlyn”, and might be worth more than $5 mil in future endorsements over her career.

[iLLmatic860]

I don't believe Ice Cube is serious with this offer and it isn't fair to Clark either in that the physical mismatches she would face would be too difficult to overcome and therefore make her look bad- almost like the situation would be an effort to humiliate her. If he is indeed serious, she should reject the offer immediately and just pursue the WNBA. I hope the league grows in popularity because of her- they are great athletes in their own right and deserve credit and attention.

Why don’t you think Cube is serious? He’s a business man. He’s 100% serious if he actually offered this

[lonzo_pelota]

How much is Saudi Arabia offering after last nights performance?

[basketballRob]

The rookie salary for a #1 pick is like $70,000. And WNBA teams have a HARD salary cap to deal with.

Even if the BIG3 contact doesn't get anywhere close to 5 mil, there's almost zero reason not to go for it for a year.

She's probably going to make way more than $5m in endorsements. I could see Nike or Adidas signing her for a record women's contract.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM Forums mobile app

[firedavidkahn]

Even someone like Thannasis would dominate players like Caitlin Clark. The athletic difference is just way too drastic.

The only role Clark could potentially have is someone who plays a few minutes max and shoots a 3.

Some of you just do not understand that pro sports leagues are first and foremost a business. Then on top of that comparing current nba players who are among the more athletic in the league to dudes that washed out of the league 5-10 years ago and are only in good enough shape to play in glorified exhibition games. Then on top of that the league wants her to do well enough to be able to play and bring in viewers. How does this not compute in some of your heads yet?

I don't think you quite understand that part yet. WNBA loses money. Despite the big push to get people to watch it, it still loses money. Not enough people are actually willing to watch it/pay money to watch despite the massive media narrative to showcase the league.

[Cavsfansince84]

I don't think you quite understand that part yet. WNBA loses money. Despite the big push to get people to watch it, it still loses money. Not enough people are actually willing to watch it/pay money to watch despite the massive media narrative to showcase the league.

I do understand that part. We all know(I would think) that the wnba only exists because the nba chooses to subsidize it. The big 3 is not the wnba though so idk why you are even bringing it up. I already stated above that the wnba has never made a profit.