Caitlin Clark Commits to Indiana Fever Amid Contract Extension Discussions

Caitlin Clark has pledged her commitment to remaining with the Indiana Fever, stating her intention to stay with the team regardless of future contract negotiations. As the team enters the offseason following a first-round playoff exit, Clark, the 2024 Rookie of the Year, expressed her primary goal is to help the Fever contend for championships.

"No matter what, I'm going to be here," Clark said during exit interviews. "I just want to do what's best for the team and make sure we have the opportunity to win championships. Like that's my main goal."

Clark is now eligible for an Exceptional Performance on Initial Contract (EPIC) extension, a provision added to the WNBA's new Collective Bargaining Agreement. This clause allows players to renegotiate the fourth year of their rookie deal and agree to a three-year extension, potentially accelerating their path to maximum and supermax salaries. Players can earn the maximum salary in their fourth year if they have been named to an All-WNBA first or second team or have won a major individual award.

Given her All-WNBA first-team selection as a rookie, Clark could earn a projected maximum salary of $1.3 million in 2027. She could also become eligible for the projected supermax of $1.7 million in 2028, the first year of her potential extended contract.

"Not saying I'm going to sign it or not sign it," Clark commented on the extension. "I think it's just kind of figuring out the way we need to construct our roster."

The Indiana Fever has previously utilized the EPIC extension with forward Aliyah Boston, who signed a four-year, $6.3 million deal after her 2025 All-WNBA second-team selection, securing the richest total salary in league history at the time.

Clark indicated that she has not extensively considered the EPIC extension nor discussed it with the team's front office, focusing instead on her time off. However, she reiterated that her decision will be guided by what best supports the team's roster construction and its pursuit of championships. "I certainly know what I deserve and what I'm worth, but at the same time sometimes you have to make sacrifices," Clark stated.

Several Indiana Fever players, including Kelsey Mitchell, Sophie Cunningham, Myisha Hines-Allen, and Tyasha Harris, are set to become unrestricted free agents. Mitchell, who had a career-best season with the Fever, played on a one-year supermax contract and is not eligible for the core designation again. Mitchell acknowledged that she will prioritize her own needs in her upcoming contract decision.