Caitlin Clark makes one promise with max contract drama coming

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...