Since Caitlin Clark was drafted as the No. 1 pick in the WNBA, she’s been living the dream. From dominating on the court to securing lucrative endorsement deals, Clark has it all, thanks to the massive viewership she attracts wherever she goes. Even during her professional golf debut at the Pro-Am, ticket sales saw a significant boost, demonstrating her star power. Yet, long before these outcomes unfolded, one person saw her potential and extended her an enticing offer—rapper and Big 3 founder, Ice Cube.

In a recent interview with Baller Alert Inc., Ice Cube confirmed the $5 million offer he had made to Clark. When asked, he simply replied, “Yeah, we did.” The offer was groundbreaking, especially considering that WNBA lottery draft picks earn a base salary of $76,535, which only climbs to $97,582 by their fourth season. The $5 million opportunity seemed like a no-brainer. But surprisingly, Clark turned it down.

Ice Cube explained why the deal didn’t materialize: “I believe she did (entertained the offer), but I think her agents were hating on it,” he said. According to him, her representatives were hesitant and refused to facilitate a meeting between Ice Cube, Clark, or even her parents. “They kind of made a business decision and didn’t let us speak with her or her family,” he says. The reasoning?

“Her agents… also got a lot of NBA guys they make millions off of. And the women that they don’t make that much money off of. So their agents  probably like, ‘Are we going to make the NBA mad? Let her play in the Big 3 for a little commission and possibly alienate these million-dollar deals we got going?’ So, I think they was like… she going to go back to the WNBA,” Ice Cube speculated.

The Big 3 has seen players like Gary Payton, Rick Barry, Nancy Lieberman, and Lisa Leslie endorse the league before. It has also now expanded with the announcement of the first purchase of a team in Los Angeles. The rapper has big visions further, reaching over the States to include London and Toronto. So given Clark’s popularity, the 22-year-old would have brought just the eyes needed for Ice Cube’s vision and received well in return for herself.

But ultimately, Clark remained committed to the league, also given the fact that she isn’t much of a fan of the 3*3 format. Nevertheless, her impact on WNBA would prove Ice Cube’s initial decision to bring her in quite right.

Angel Reese was another player Ice Cube considered

During an appearance on Morning Hustle, he addressed fans who questioned why Reese didn’t receive an offer. “Some people were upset that I didn’t make an offer to Angel Reese,” he said. He explained that while he enjoys watching Reese play, the financial potential wasn’t the same. “It wasn’t unlocking those dollars like it would have with Caitlin, and that’s just the reality of the business.”

Indeed, Clark’s hype is grounded in her record-breaking numbers. Her 2023 NCAA Championship run drew nearly 25 million viewers, while her rookie season with the Indiana Fever boosted televised game averages to 1.18 million viewers. Then out of the 23 games that surpassed one million viewers in the 2024 season, Clark played in 20 of them. Her Rookie of the Year campaign solidified her status as a ratings magnet.

Her influence extends beyond the court, making her a hot topic on sports shows and social media alike. It’s no wonder sponsors were eager to leverage her popularity for the Big 3. As for Reese, the opportunities aren’t scarce. While enjoying her offseason, Reese is gearing up for her debut in the Unrivaled league in 2025, proving that her time in the spotlight is far from over.