Did Caitlin Clark Leave WNBA for Europe? Truth Or Rumours
Caitlin Clark getting drafted to the WNBA heralded a new era of possibilities for the league. Often regarded as the ‘Michael Jordan of the W,’ the WNBA witnessed record viewership numbers, simply based on fans tuning in to watch Clark and the Fever play every other night. Watching Caitlin play in another rival league or even in Europe could be quite a tantalizing visual for most fans.
The real question remains: Is Caitlin Clark leaving the WNBA to play professional basketball in Europe? Let’s find out.
Is Caitlin Clark leaving the WNBA to play in Europe?
The WNBA off-season is often a long break for players to rest, find leisure, or continue playing professional basketball for other pro basketball leagues. Many veterans often go overseas to continue hooping, some even going further in hopes of a better source of income other than their WNBA salaries.
Clark’s contemporaries from her draft class, including Angel Reese and Kate Martin, are playing in the new 3×3 women’s basketball league, Unrivalled, founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart. Other veteran W players such as Britney Griner and Kayla McBride have also had commendable careers playing overseas. Kayla McBride has even won the EuroLeague women’s championship twice with Turkish basketball franchise Fenerbahçe and was selected as the EuroLeague Final 4 MVP in 2024.
To answer this question, Caitlin Clark is not leaving the WNBA to play in a rival league or overseas, such as in Europe. The rookie sensation still mentions Indiana Fever on her Instagram bio, reaffirming her desire to stay in the W through a post on her profile. In the caption to that post, she wrote, “Year one ✅- thank you to the many people who have supported me as I’ve been able to live my childhood dream. I’m filled with gratitude as I reflect on this past year of my life. See you all in year two.”
Caitlin Clark’s rise from a rookie sensation to the literal face of the WNBA has sparked many conversations on the pressing issues of a rival league competing with the WNBA. The primary concern for most players in the W is that their salaries are very much inferior compared to their NBA counterparts.
According to Spotrac, the average salary of a first-rounder rookie in the NBA is estimated to be around $11,000,000 in a year, while a WNBA first-rounder rookie can only earn a maximum of $350,000, as per the 2025 rookie scale.
This vast disparity in pay often forces players in the W to look for other opportunities outside. Rookies such as Nika Muhl and Kamilla Cardoso have made waves overseas this off-season, with Muhl joining the Turkish League and Cardoso playing in China. While Clark’s basketball endeavors for the off-season remain unclear, she sure is trying her hand at a new sport, that being golf.
ALSO READ: Top 5 Caitlin Clark WNBA Records & Impact
Caitlin Clark swings the club to play golf in the off-season
After the Indiana Fever’s playoffs exit in September, Caitlin Clark hinted at the possibility of playing golf professionally. As per Indiana Fever reporter Chloe Peterson on X, CC said, “I’m gonna play some golf. That’s what I’m gonna do until it becomes too cold in Indiana. I’ll become a professional golfer.”
Clark has always been up and vocal about her love for golf. Golfing was one of her biggest passions since childhood, and her excitement knew no bounds when she teed up with the No.1 player in women’s golf, Nelly Korda, at the Anikka LPGA Tournament. The tournament was a huge success, with many CC fans tuning in, increasing the viewership and coverage of LPGA and golf amongst basketball fans.
This wasn’t Clark’s first time participating in any professional golfing event. In 2023, the Iowa Hawkeyes star was seen teeing off in the John Deere Classic Pro-Am alongside Ludvig Aberg and former US Ryder Cup team captain Zach Johnson at TPC Deere Run.
Caitlin Clark’s off-season endeavors are all part of keeping herself engaged and busy before the WNBA season begins. A lot awaits for the 2024 Rookie of the Year to begin a new season with the Indiana Fever. After a historic rookie season unlike any other in the W, the next stop for this hoops sensation is perhaps to win a chip for herself and cement her legacy as one of the greatest hoopers ever.