“It’s Business”: Angel Reese Undervalued as Caitlin Clark’s $750K Edge Ignites “Unfairness” Debate Ahead of Unrivaled League

It must have truly been an EUREKA moment when Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier got the idea of having a women’s basketball league in Miami. The league scheduled to start in January next year will have 30 players in the inaugural season. As we inch closer to the end of the year, there are growing murmurs that the Unrivaled has to select the remaining 4 players, one of which could be Caitlin Clark. Perhaps, the league needs a star who can draw large crowds so that the 3×3 basketball league becomes a success from the get-go. However, one of the problems that could arise is with her rival Angel Reese, who might feel unimportant to the league.

On Sunday’s episode of Come And Talk 2 Me, KiAnna Nycole joined Treasure Wilson to answer some important questions about the league. While players like Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum, Kahleah Copper, Brittney Griner, Reese, the co-founders themselves, and many others have already filled up the initial 26 of the 30 spots, four still remain—one of which will most probably be occupied by Caitlin Clark. Or at least that’s what it definitely looks like, as the league is willing to go to any lengths to get the star player in.

As per Wilson, “They don’t have confirmation from basketball star Caitlyn Clark so the news is HiAnna, they’re willing to give Caitlyn Clark $1 million in salary plus equity and a revenue share for three months of work they’re also thinking about giving her a stake into broadcasting rights.” The league recently got a deal with TNT Sports which might be a profitable offer for Clark.

Notably, Reese was the 10th player to join the Unrivaled and will reportedly earn around $250,000 in salary alone, like the rest of her mates. But that’s still a 750,000 difference, which many might feel is unfair. However, if you ask HiAnna Nycole, if anything, Clark absolutely deserves it…

“It’s fair. It’s business like your name and your reputation. And your talent brings in dollar. Brings in fans. Brings in prestige. Like she has a platform, so they’re paying her for the platform that she brings. And I think that goes across with anything like there are some players getting paid more, getting more deals doing whatever because they have a personality. They have a presence. They have appeal and you know businesses recognize that and they want to put dollars into that to get that reach, so I don’t think it’s unfair at all, right,” Nycole stated.

And let’s not forget that the league will reportedly give the 30 players 15% owner equity share in the inaugural season. As per The Triibe, with Unrivaled currently valued at $100 million, that 15% is worth $15 million to the players—one million for them each. And honestly, Reese will be more than happy to draw a salary like that, especially given her eye-opening WNBA salary confession. “I just hope you know the WNBA don’t pay my bills at all…“I don’t even think that pays one of my bills. Literally, I’m trying to think of my rent for where I stay at [in Chicago]. I’m gonna do the math real quick. I’m living beyond my means! I wouldn’t even be able to get a sandwich if I wanted to,” she added. “I wouldn’t be able to eat. I wouldn’t be able to live,” she said during a livestream this month.