The alternative league Unrivaled has just sent shockwaves through women’s basketball. After a fresh round of investment, the upstart competition has reportedly raised its valuation to a staggering $340 million—a number that not only rivals but in some ways dwarfs what the WNBA has been able to achieve over decades.

The big question now? Whether the league’s brightest potential star, Caitlin Clark, could one day lace up her sneakers and play in it.

Unrivaled, founded with the mission of giving women’s basketball players higher pay, more exposure, and year-round opportunities, has rapidly gained traction with athletes and investors alike.

Big-name backers, including venture capital firms and celebrity stakeholders, are betting that the sport is on the brink of exploding commercially—and they want to position themselves at the center of it. With Clark as the hottest commodity in sports, her potential involvement looms over every conversation about the league’s future.

The $340 million valuation represents more than just money—it represents leverage. By offering higher player salaries, lucrative sponsorship deals, and a player-first business model, Unrivaled is challenging the WNBA’s dominance. Already, multiple WNBA players have quietly expressed interest in what the league has to offer, suggesting that Unrivaled could quickly siphon off stars if the WNBA doesn’t respond aggressively.

That’s where Caitlin Clark comes in. The Fever guard has been the single most influential athlete in the WNBA since her rookie season, generating record-breaking attendance, unprecedented TV ratings, and an economic impact measured in hundreds of millions of dollars.

If Unrivaled were to lure Clark, even for a short-term deal, it could immediately legitimize the league as a serious rival. Clark’s presence alone would guarantee national headlines, packed arenas, and an instant wave of attention from networks and sponsors.

So far, Clark has remained loyal to the Indiana Fever and the WNBA, focusing on her mission to lead the franchise back to glory. But questions about her future linger. Could Unrivaled, with its financial backing and promises of player empowerment, entice her with an offer too good to refuse?

Insiders suggest that the league could make a record-breaking deal—potentially worth tens of millions per season—just to secure her services. That would dwarf current WNBA contracts, where max salaries hover around $250,000, with overseas play or endorsements often necessary to close the gap.

The WNBA now faces a critical juncture. On one hand, Caitlin Clark is the crown jewel of its marketing strategy, credited with driving more than a quarter of its 2024 economic activity.

On the other hand, the existence of a $340 million rival league, fueled by fresh investor confidence, threatens to disrupt the balance of power. If Clark or even a handful of marquee stars were to jump ship, the WNBA could find itself scrambling to protect its future.

Fans are already buzzing online, with some urging Clark to stay the course and cement her legacy in the WNBA, while others argue she should chase the money, freedom, and opportunity that Unrivaled represents. The debate highlights just how seismic this moment is: the future of women’s basketball may hinge on whether the sport’s most marketable superstar decides to stay loyal to the league that drafted her—or pioneer a new era elsewhere.

For now, Caitlin Clark hasn’t given any indication she’ll bolt, but the whispers are getting louder. With Unrivaled’s valuation soaring to $340 million, the league has officially entered the conversation as more than just an experiment—it’s a genuine contender.

And if the day comes when Clark decides to play, it won’t just be a signing. It will be the single most disruptive move in women’s sports history.