Caitlin Clark sends message to team-mate after signing deal with rival basketball league

has delivered a succinct two-word endorsement to her Indiana Fever teammate Lexie Hull as she prepares for the debut of the Unrivaled series.

After their squad's premature exit from the WNBA play-offs, Clark and Hull are enjoying some downtime. Hull has been basking in the Hawaiian sunshine with her partner, Will Matthiessen, posting pictures of their holiday on social media.

Hull's updates, which she tagged with "Mahalo", a Hawaiian expression of thanks, have drawn attention from many, including Clark who responded with "Slay guys". The word 'slay' is widely used slang for doing exceptionally well or being impressive.

Hull is set to commence training for Unrivaled, the new three-on-three basketball league founded by WNBA legends Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart.

The inaugural event kicks off in Miami on January 17, with Hull joining an impressive roster that includes luminaries such as Collier, Stewart, Angel Reese, Kelsey Plum, Chelsea Gray, Arike Ogunbowale, Jewell Loyd, and Brittney Griner.

An excited Hull marked her participation with three party emojis on Instagram, in anticipation of the final 30-player roster announcement this Thursday.

The teams will adopt names like Laces Basketball Club, Mist Basketball Club, Phantom Basketball Club, Lunar Owls Basketball Club, Rose Basketball Club, and Vinyl Basketball Club. This 'Basketball Club' moniker takes inspiration from European soccer clubs, aiming to cultivate a comparable level of fan devotion.

Clark, 22, is said to have been , which includes $1million (£770,000), in addition to equity and revenue sharing. This significantly overshadows her base salary during her rookie season with the Fever, where she pocketed $76,535 (£58,950).

Clark has so far rebuffed any advances from the WNBA's competitor and is working on her golf game in a rare break from basketball this winter.

Nevertheless, the majority of her earnings stem from profitable endorsements with high-profile brands such as Swoosh, State Farm, Gatorade, Wilson, Bose and Buick.