Caitlin Clark can’t speak to what’s to come regarding the financial side of her WNBA career, but she does know one thing heading into the offseason:
The 2024 Rookie of the Year wants to stay in Indiana.
“No matter what, I’m going to be here,” she said during exit interviews on Thursday morning. “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.”
After wrapping her third year in the WNBA following a first-round playoff loss to the Aces, Clark has a unique opportunity thanks to a clause that was added to the league’s new CBA this offseason.
The three-time All-Star is eligible for an Exceptional Performance on Initial Contract extension — EPIC, for short — which allows players to renegotiate what would have been a fourth year of their rookie deal and agree to a three-year contract extension to fast track to max and supermax salaries. They can earn the max in their fourth year if they were previously named to All-WNBA first or second team, or win a major personal award.
Clark could earn the projected max of $1.3 million in 2027 as she was named to All-WNBA first team during her rookie year. She also could earn the projected supermax of $1.7 million in 2028, which would be the first year of her extended deal.
“Not saying I’m going to sign it or not sign it,” she said. “I think it’s just kind of figuring out the way we need to construct our roster.”
Fever teammate Aliyah Boston was the marquee example heading into the 2026 season. With her 2025 All-WNBA second team selection, she signed a four-year $6.3 million extension with Indiana to score the richest total salary in league history.
Clark, along with 2026 Defensive Player of the Year Angel Reese, is eligible heading into 2027.
Paige Bueckers will be eligible to negotiate for the EPIC extension in 2028 after earning her All-WNBA second team selection as a rookie.
Clark admitted she hasn’t given the idea “much thought” nor has had discussions with the front office about the extension.
Rather, she has been playing golf every day.
Still, the Fever star stated she wants to help her team create the best roster it can for the next season after falling short of a WNBA Finals appearance three seasons in a row.
“Obviously, it’s a really cool opportunity. I think it’s something that’s great that was added to the CBA to kind of reward young players that are on their rookie deals….” she said. “I think it shows respect to the young players that are really talented in our league. I just think for myself it’s more of a decision of how we can best construct a roster and what’s going to be best for our team to help us win championships.
“My focus is on winning,” Clark added. “I certainly know what I deserve and what I’m worth, but at the same time sometimies you have to make sacrifices and I’m not saying I’m not going to sign, and I’m not saying I am going to sign it.”
Heading into the Fever offseason, Kelsey Mitchell, Sophie Cunningham, Myisha Hines-Allen and Tyasha Harris will all be unrestricted free agents.
Mitchell, who had a career season in Indiana, played on a one-year supermax deal and the Fever is not able to aisgn her the core designation again.
The four-time All-Star is expected to have plenty of landing spots and she said she will be “selfish” with her decision.
“I think that’s where I am in my career….what I probably need and what’s probably best for me. So I have to be selfish in that room,” Mitchell said during her exit interview.
