Ice Cube Offers NCAA Star Caitlin Clark Big Money To Join Big3 League

Caitlin Clark is making big moves on and off the NCAA court.

Not only has the Iowa star basketball player entered into the upcoming WNBA Draft and is expected to be the No. 1 pick, but she also received an offer from Ice Cube to join his BIG3 league. And the amount of money attached to that offer is BIG.

The BIG3 is offering Clark to play in just eight regular-season games and possibly two playoff games with a whopping salary of $5 million! And joining the BIG3 shouldn't mean she can't still be in the WNBA. She should be able to do both if she so chooses!

It's also been reported that Clark would also win big with merchandising and sponsorships, so this deal just looks sweeter and sweeter for the college star.

No word on whether or not Clark is going to take Ice Cube's lucrative offer. She's currently gearing up for Iowa Hawkeyes' Sweet 16 game this weekend.

Ice Cube shared that he wasn't planning to make Clark's offer public just yet, but since the word got out, he's speaking openly on social media about his choice.

"We intended the offer to remain private while Caitlin Clark plays for the championship. But I won’t deny what’s now already out there: BIG3 made a historic offer to Caitlin Clark. Why wouldn’t we? Caitlin is a generational athlete who can achieve tremendous success in the BIG3," he shared in an Instagram post.

"The skeptics laughed when we made Nancy Lieberman the first female coach of a men’s pro team, and she won the championship in her first year. Then Lisa Leslie won it all in year two. With our offer, Caitlin Clark can make history and break down even more barriers for women athletes."

His post continued to talk about the fact that many women athletes in the U.S. end up playing in other countries during their off seasons.

"America’s women athletes should not be forced to spend their off seasons playing in often dismal and dubious foreign countries just to make ends meet. And they should have more than just one professional option in the US at a time when American pro sports leagues are being infiltrated by autocratic, anti-women regimes such as Qatar. Our pathbreaking offer to Caitlin Clark demonstrates that BIG3 now offers another choice for athletes."

Ice Cube's Instagram post is grabbing tons of attention from basketball fans. More than 45,000 people liked the post and about 1,200 commented on the offer so far.

One fan left the comment, "This is how you change the game!" Another added, "Ground Breaking!!!"

And while many of the comments were uplifting and positive, there were some that voiced a different opinion.

"I don’t see the understand why Caitlin Clark playing 3 on 3 half court basketball against retired NBA players would be intriguing. I understand the 'woman empowerment' and inclusion part but it just doesn’t make much sense. She’s the only girl in the league playing against retired NBA players?" one Instagram follower wrote.

Another person responded to the negative thoughts pointing out, "I love watching BIG3. This is how you create change. And to everyone commenting about other women players/coaches/teams, he literally starts by saying this was intended to remain private. WE don't know who he might've reached out to in private. And besides, go BIG or go home."

During a recent podcast episode, Shaquille O'Neal talked about joining the BIG3.

"You think I can play in the BIG3? O'Neal asked, to which he was told, "Yeah, easily."

A clip of that part of the podcast was shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, by ClutchPoints, and Ice Cube reshared it with the caption, "We got the contract ready for you big fella. You got 3 months to get Diesel. You can eat all day in @thebig3."

It's been reported that Ice Cube extended a formal invitation to O'Neal. If O'Neal does in fact join the BIG3, it could open doors for other retired NBA players to join the popular 3-on-3 league.

A few weeks ago, Clark took to Instagram to announce that she has entered the WNBA Draft.

"While this season is far from over and we have a lot more goals to achieve, it will be my last one at Iowa," she shared on her Instagram page. "I am excited to be entering the 2024 WNBA Draft."

It's not completely clear at this time if the WNBA would try to block Clark from joining the BIG3. Considering that the BIG3 and the NBA aren't on the best of terms, it could be a roadblock for Clark, but it would also be a risky move considering the current U.S. Department of Justice antitrust investigation.

The investigation is looking into allegations that the NBA is trying to prevent the BIG3 from getting sponsors and potential partners, as well as discouraging television networks from airing BIG3 games.