Caitlin Clark Excited For Fever Season, Under Contract For Two More After Option Exercised

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MAY 02: Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever dribbles against the Nigeria National Team during the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 02, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Bobby Goddin/Getty Images)

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The decision puts Clark under contract for $597,596 that season, per Her Hoop Stats WNBA Salary Cap Database. After that, she projects to be a restricted free agent.

That’s the current reality, at least. It could change. Clark, by making an All-WNBA team in her first season, will be eligible for an extension via the Exceptional Performance on Initial Contract (EPIC) provision next season. That’s a newly implemented type of extension – so far, Clark’s Fever teammate Aliyah Boston is the only player to sign a contract using those EPIC rules.

EPIC extensions give a team the opportunity to not only extend a player’s contract, but also give them a raise in the fourth season of their rookie deal. For Clark, that raise would come next season. The Fever could bump up her cap hit from just under $600,000 all the way up to her maximum salary, though there is room for negotiation. Boston, for example, had her salary bumped up to $1 million, about $119k less than her max.

The most money Clark can make in 2027 on an EPIC extension isn’t known – it would rise if she is named MVP in 2026. But it’s at least the player maximum salary (17%) and could be as high as 20% of next year’s salary cap for WNBA teams, a number that also isn’t known and can’t be until next winter. On top of a raise in 2027, Clark’s contract could be extended for multiple seasons thanks to the EPIC provision.

The Fever will do whatever they can to keep her around as long as possible. She has averaged 18.5 points and 8.5 assists per game across 53 games in two seasons. Indiana is 28-25 when she is available to play.

“Just really excited more than anything,” Clark said of her emotions for the coming season. She feels great about what her team has gotten done during training camp. “Practice has been really good. [The] energy level has been great, so [I] can’t complain about that.”

Clark’s contract for 2027 is now protected after her team option for that season was picked up. She and the Fever kick off their 2026 campaign on Saturday afternoon.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com