Imagine this: the lights dim at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, the buzz of thousands of eager fans grows louder, and then—Caitlin Clark steps onto the court, the homegrown hero back where she belongs. It’s a scene straight out of a basketball fan’s dream. But could it become a reality? Recent chatter suggests it just might. National reporter Ben Pickman recently shared some juicy details from a private conversation with Unrivaled League president Alex Bazzell, hinting at plans that could shake up women’s basketball in a big way.

Ben Pickman, known for his insider scoops, dropped this intriguing nugget during a conversation on The Athletic Women’s Basketball Show. According to Pickman, Alex Bazzell has some pretty ambitious plans for Unrivaled, the new 3-on-3 basketball league.

While the league launched with a splash in Miami, staying put in one city isn’t part of the vision. Instead, Unrivaled is eyeing a touring model—think basketball’s answer to the Harlem Globetrotters.

“Alex Bazell, who’s the league President, he told me, and you can read about this in more depth on the site right now, that actually in future years, Unrivaled wants to do some touring. And that is kind of a way that they’re going to grow and they’re going to basically take the league on the road and they’re going to target non-WNBA cities and also college towns,” Pickman explained. And yes, Iowa is on that list. 

But it’s not just Iowa in the spotlight. Bazzell is watching other hoops-loving communities such as Baton Rouge, South Carolina, and Notre Dame. These are arenas fans want to fill to cheer their hearts out for their favorite women’s basketball teams.

“So, you know, wouldn’t be shocking, and this is now speculation if that next year say they played a game in Baton Rouge or they played a game, if Caitlin Clark participated in Iowa or they went to Notre Dame or South Carolina, like they go to some of these markets potentially like these college towns where, you know, there are so many women’s basketball fans that would just pack an arena that wouldn’t be shocking. And they kind of talked about, and Alex told me this in the story, that they kind of want to go to different markets to help grow the games, to grow the game of women’s basketball and in-person experience,” Pickman added.

It’s a bold plan, designed to bring professional women’s basketball directly to the fans. And honestly? It feels like a breath of fresh air for the sport. And of course, this leads us to the million-dollar question, literally.

According to reports, Caitlin Clark was offered a blockbuster deal for its inaugural season by Unrivaled. We’re talking over $1 million for just 10 weeks of play, plus league equity and performance bonuses. The deal was described as “Messi-like,” and for good reason. But despite the eye-popping numbers, Clark chose to sit this season out.

Her decision wasn’t entirely unexpected. After playing 79 games between her final college season and her rookie year with the Indiana Fever, Clark needed a break. She’s said as much, making it clear that rest and recovery are priorities before diving back into WNBA action. But seems like the 3×3 league is doing just fine even without the Iowa sensation.

Unrivaled’s bold start without Caitlin Clark

Even without Clark, Unrivaled has made waves since its debut on January 17. The league started in Miami with a sold-out crowd and has some big names, including Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, and Jewell Loyd. The league’s 3×3 format at breakneck speeds has fans intrigued and so is the financial backing—$35 million in funding with major sponsors like Ally and Under Armour—all for relatively big ambitions.

Still, challenges remain. It’s not easy to keep the fans engaged and maintain financial stability while successfully running operations. Streaming issues during the opening games are already hiccups. It is understandable, as these are growing pains, but Unrivaled’s leadership sure seems keen on fixing them.

So, will Caitlin Clark eventually suit up for Unrivaled? That’s anyone’s guess. For now, the league is keeping the door wide open, hopeful that its evolution will entice the WNBA’s reigning ROTY to join in future seasons. After all, who wouldn’t want to see her bring her signature style to a league that’s rewriting the rules of women’s basketball?

For fans, the idea of Clark leading an Iowa-based Unrivaled team feels like a dream waiting to come true. Whether it happens next year, the year after, or not at all, one thing’s for sure—Unrivaled is already living up to its name. It’s bold, it’s exciting, and it’s giving women’s basketball the spotlight it deserves.

Who knows? The next time the lights dim at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, it might not just be a dream after all.