Why did Caitlin Clark turn down $15 million? A look at the star’s offseason offer from The Big 3 League

Gilbert McGregor

Why did Caitlin Clark turn down $15 million? A look at the star’s offseason offer from The Big 3 League image

Caitlin Clark has been a superstar since bursting onto the scene during her days at Iowa. Her stardom has carried over to the WNBA, where she's one of the league's main attractions.

Unsurprisingly, Clark's services were in high demand after her first WNBA offseason, as many of the league's players participate in offseason leagues to sharpen their tools while adding to their personal portfolios. Now, a report suggests Clark turned down a massive offer from the Big 3 League.

David "Tattoo" Gonzalez, the voice of the Big 3, recently revealed that the league made a $15 million offer to Clark -- an offer the superstar rebuffed. While unconfirmed, the rumored offer is a large increase from her annual WNBA salary but is comparable to her range of endorsements.

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Here is what to know about the reported offer made to the Fever's star, and why she turned it down.

MORE: The latest updates on the Fever's playoff hopes

Who offered Caitlin Clark $15 million?

The Big 3 reportedly offered Clark $15 million to participate in the 2025 season.

"We offered Caitlin Clark $15 million," Tattoo revealed during a TFU Podcast clip that has since been removed. "It started at $5 (million). But the official final offer was $15 million for 10 weeks."

Reports of the $15 million offer come over a year after league founder Ice Cube confirmed that the league had extended a $5 million offer to Clark. Gonzalez claims the league offered Clark $15 million to participate in its 10-week season, making it a salary equivalent to $1.5 million per week.

It is worth noting that the Big 3 season began on June 14 and concluded on Aug. 17, meaning it is concurrent with the WNBA regular season, which began on May 16 and runs through Sept. 11.

MORE: Inside the relationship between Caitlin Clark and Taylor Swift

What is The Big 3 League?

The Big 3 is a 3-on-3 league founded by entertainment mogul and entrepreneur, Ice Cube.

The league's inaugural season was played in 2017. It is mostly populated by retired NBA players. Rosters feature five total players, with two substitutes available for each squad. The league's games are played in a first-to-50-points format. 

Notable players in the Big 3 League 

While many former NBA stars have played in the Big3, the 2025 season was headlined by former No. 1 overall pick Dwight Howard and former No. 2 pick Michael Beasley.

Here is a list of notable players to suit up during the Big3's 2025 campaign:

  • Dwight Howard
  • Michael Beasley
  • Montrezl Harrell
  • Jeff Teague
  • Lance Stephenson
  • Corey Brewer
  • Greg Monroe
  • Joe Johnson

Gilbert McGregor

Gilbert McGregor first joined The Sporting News in 2018 as a content producer for Global editions of NBA.com. Before covering the game, McGregor played basketball collegiately at Wake Forest, graduating with a Communication degree in 2016. McGregor began covering the NBA during the 2017-18 season and has been on hand for a number of league events.