“Will she or won’t she?” is the question of the hour, and so far Caitlin Clark has done a pretty good job at keeping her fans guessing on her Unrivaled stance. Despite the evident perks the new league extends in her direction—which includes a $1 million salary, an equity stake, bonuses, and a revenue share from the media rights—the ROTY has, till date, maintained a professional indifference to the league. But hints of her reservations have been all over, with the recent instance only solidifying her decision further.

The 22-year-old recently made an appearance at The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge (the penultimate event of the 2024 LPGA season) at the Pelican Golf Club, where she teed up alongside golf superstar Nelly Korda, and World Golf Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam. However, amid golf clubs, and enjoying her time with a different kind of fun other than the usual 5v5, on Wednesday morning, Clark expounded on her remaining off-season plans in an interview with the Golf Channel. But wait! Was that a hint at her dismissing Unrivaled?

The journalist asked her, “I know you work really hard in the off-season. You said yesterday you’re always trying to get better. What i the thing you’re working on this off-season?”, to which the Indiana Fever replied, “I think, honestly, besides the actual basketball skill part of things. I think, getting stronger. That’s what I’m focusing on. I’m in the weight room a lot, just building that strength. Obviously, it was hard going from college season to the professional season. You don’t get to spend a lot of time in the weight room. So, that’s what I’ve tried to focus on the most here.” But that’s not all, as she further went into detail, and made some interesting revelations.

Notably, the Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier-founded league is reportedly slated to  begin and end during the WNBA off-season—the inaugural season is set to tip off on January 17, and will run for eight weeks. Keep this in mind as you read the story further.

The interviewer followed up with another question asking, “This is kind of the first time you’ve ever really had an offseason. What’s it been like to have this much time off as an adult?”

“It’s nice. But at the same time, I’m still so busy. I gotta get things done that I haven’t been able to do during basketball season. Everybody thinks I have bunch of free time, but I am busy, I have been doing stuff. I like to keep myself in a routine of working out. So it’s been lot of fun, I have enjoyed it,” Clark stated. Looks like Clark’s off-season plans are already made, and Unrivaled may not have a place in it. Interestingly, this comes a week after the WNBA superstar showed reluctance at sharing her actual plans.

In an interview with ESPN, the player had said, “We’ll see…I don’t know. Just taking it as it goes, and see if I want to play eventually.” So, while there’s no outright denial, there’s definitely a lack of confirmation—which is significant, especially given that the new league’s final roster will be coming out on November 20, which is less than a week from now. But if you ask the league executives, it’s Clark’s world and we’re just living in it.

“We’re always going to have a roster spot for Caitlin Clark. We’re not applying a full-court press the way people think. We are letting her decompress from basketball. … She knows that we have a spot for her when she’s ready,” Unrivaled’s President Alex Bazzell told Sportico in October, after the league expanded its initial roster from 30 to 36 players ahead of its first season, and recently signed Kate Martin and Lexie Hull.

For now though, the rookie looks to be focusing on the appointment of a new head coach, and adjusting for the year ahead.

Caitlin Clark affirms faith in Indiana and Stephanie White’s dreams

When the Indiana Fever head coach Christie Sides was fired, the President for Basketball Operations Kelly Krauskopf had clearly stated that this would contribute to “maximizing our talent and bringing another WNBA championship back to Indiana.” 

Then, after Stephanie White was hired, she held a press conference in early November and showed trust in Krauskopf’s aims, expressing “The future is so bright and our goal to hang another banner in @GainbridgeFH.” Now at the recent Pro-Am appearance, Clark offered her stance of acting on Indiana’s plans.

“Obviously, our goal of reaching the playoffs last year we accomplished. Now, we wanna be a Championship contender. We’re putting in the pieces, hopefully we will be able to do that. Hopefully, add some free agents and I think you can see the excitement in the organization, in the city, our fans… So I can’t wait to go back out there. Wish we had a game tomorrow honestly,” Clark reaffirmed her faith in the former Connecticut Sun coach, sending out positive signs for her next season. 

The team indeed has a task ahead of building a foundation for the team and keeping their star veteran, Kelsey Mitchell on the roster. Krauskopf and White have been clear in their intentions of the same, expressing concerns around inexperienced team. But among who’s left, Clark is as enthusiastic as she can get. So Unrivaled still seems to be in the backseat for now.