Caitlin Clark’s offseason priorities have once again stirred up debate, with WNBA fans puzzled by her apparent lean toward USA Basketball over Napheesa Collier’s new Unrivaled league.
One fan account noted Clark’s focus clearly: @nosyone4
“Caitlin says USA Basketball is her top priority this offseason. The FIBA World Cup is in September 2026 and there is a Team USA camp in March.” That response sparked a wave of speculation, especially after Collier openly pitched her fellow stars to join her new venture.
Caitlin says USA Basketball is her top priority this offseason. The FIBA World Cup is in September 2026 and there is a Team USA camp in March pic.twitter.com/4SN00ZDbAd
— correlation (@nosyone4) October 2, 2025
Another fan summed up the reaction bluntly: @Halfmykingdom:
“Sorry Phee but she didn’t take the bait.” The idea that Clark could pass on Unrivaled to keep her focus on Team USA has left some WNBA fans questioning what that means for both the new project and for Clark’s own readiness for next season.
Clark’s decision isn’t final, but fans are already debating its impact. @CCFCReceiptBox chimed in,
“So she’s not going to play til March? How is that going to help her get ready for the season in May?”
WNBA fans are divided. Some see Clark’s focus on Team USA as the right call, pointing out that competing on the international stage would raise her profile even further. Others think skipping a new platform designed to highlight star players could weaken the momentum she’s helped generate.
With the league celebrating record viewership and attendance this past season, every move by Caitlin Clark draws scrutiny. For now, her lean toward Team USA shows her intent to build her career around long-term legacy rather than side projects. Still, WNBA fans will be watching closely to see if she officially shuts the door on Unrivaled.
WNBA Fans Debate Ice Cube’s Big 3 Money Against League Pay Gaps
While Caitlin Clark’s offseason choices remain a hot topic, WNBA fans are also turning attention to the wider debate over pay in women’s basketball. Rapper and Big 3 founder Ice Cube has become part of the conversation after past reports of his multi-million dollar offer to Clark.
@Sudharsan_ak highlighted former NBA star Cam’Ron’s comments:
“Cam’Ron talks about Cathy’s comments on Caitlin Clark: ‘I was making 3.1M/yr in college. IceCube offered me 5M for 10 weeks, then they came back with 15M. I’m trying to bring awareness to women’s basketball taking a wild paycut (78K/yr in WNBA).’”
Cam’Ron talks about Cathy’s comments on Caitlin Clark:
“I was making 3.1M/yr in college. IceCube offered me 5M for 10 weeks, then they came back with 15M. I’m trying to bring awareness to women’s basketball taking a wild paycut (78K/yr in WNBA)” pic.twitter.com/LDAraS8pPw
— Ashwin (@Sudharsan_ak) October 2, 2025
The contrast between Clark’s WNBA rookie deal and the figures tied to the Big 3 stunned many WNBA fans. They see the gap as proof that women’s basketball is still struggling to reward its brightest stars fairly.
Yet, others point to the league’s growth as evidence of progress. @JStayFadeD wrote,
“viewership and attendance in the wnba hit record this season despite CC being out.” For these fans, the focus should be on sustaining that growth rather than chasing quick money from outside ventures.
Another fan, @mycoachdom, floated a bold idea:
“This the perfect time for Ice Cube to send another offer to CC.” While the thought gained traction online, analysts argue that Clark aligning with Team USA and the WNBA provides long-term stability that one-off contracts cannot match.
WNBA fans now find themselves in the middle of two narratives: rising league success versus lingering pay gaps. How Clark navigates these choices will not only shape her career but also frame the ongoing discussion of value in women’s sports.
For more basketball content, click on Hardwood Heroics. Sabel Reyes can be reached through sabelreyes22@gmail.com. Other websites under the Sports Heroics umbrella are Gridiron Heroics and Wisconsin Heroics.
Sabel has been working as a field reporter for People’s Television Network (PTV), mainly about the Philippine Basketball Association since 2016 and has been elevated to Executive Producer for sports in 2022. Aside from being on top of the Philippine sports scene, she is also a running enthusiast. You can also follow her on X at @SabelReyes2 and Instagram at @msabelreyes.
