When it comes to building a star-studded league from scratch, even the most determined efforts can hit roadblocks. Napheesa Collier, the Minnesota Lynx superstar and co-founder of Unrivaled—a 3-on-3 basketball league featuring the crème de la crème of women’s hoops—knows this all too well. But let’s be real: If recruiting were easy, everyone would do it, right?
At Thursday’s media session ahead of the league’s Jan. 17 debut, Collier was lobbed a loaded question: “Who was the hardest player to recruit?” Her response? A coy smile and a deflective, “You’re trying to get me in trouble.” Classic.
But before the moment could cool, Skylar Diggins-Smith, never one to shy away from a mic, piped up with her own zinger: “I was easy money.”
While Collier didn’t name names, basketball fans and insiders have a pretty good idea who she wasn’t talking about—or maybe exactly who she was. Enter Caitlin Clark, the Indiana Fever’s young phenom and a player so magnetic she practically broke the internet during her rookie WNBA season.
Caitlin Clark: The One That Got Away (For Now)
Unrivaled’s brass spent months wooing Clark, trying to sell her on the league’s fresh format and elite talent pool. But Clark, showing maturity well beyond her years, decided to sit this one out. Why? Because she wanted an offseason filled with rest, golf, and some quality time with her boyfriend, Connor McCaffery. Oh, and she’s probably plotting another jaw-dropping season with the Fever, because why not?
Collier, ever the professional, has been vocal about her admiration for Clark, saying she wants to help elevate her game and profile. But for now, it seems both Collier and Unrivaled fans will have to wait—likely with bated breath and a touch of frustration—to see if Clark graces their court next year.
The Collier-Bazzell Tag Team
Alex Bazzell, Collier’s husband and Unrivaled’s president, made his stance on Clark abundantly clear back in November. “Caitlin will always have a spot in our league,” he stated, adding that her offseason decision to skip the inaugural season was fully respected. A diplomatic response, but you can’t help but imagine him muttering, “Your loss, Clark,” under his breath.
It’s not as though Clark’s rookie season was without its share of chaos. She dazzled on the court, dragging the Fever to their first postseason berth in eight years, but also endured a whirlwind of controversies that would make a reality TV producer jealous. Perhaps she earned the right to trade high-stakes basketball for a more laid-back offseason.
What’s Next for Unrivaled and Clark?
With the league gearing up for its launch, the absence of Caitlin Clark looms large—but not insurmountable. Collier and her team have already assembled a formidable lineup of players eager to make history in the league’s inaugural season.
As for Clark? Once the 2025 WNBA season wraps, Unrivaled officials will undoubtedly be back at her door, probably with a contract, flowers, and maybe a playlist of Adele’s greatest hits to sweeten the deal.
Until then, the basketball world will continue to speculate—and Collier will keep dodging loaded questions like the savvy veteran she is. One thing’s for sure: When Caitlin Clark finally does join Unrivaled (because, let’s face it, it feels inevitable), it’s going to be worth the wait.
