INDIANAPOLIS — In an unsurprising move, the Indiana Fever picked up Caitlin Clark’s fourth-year option on Tuesday afternoon, officially putting her under contract through the 2027 season.
This move was a formality, at best. Rookie-scale contracts are typically three-year deals with a team option for a fourth year, and that fourth-year option needs to be picked up ahead of the player’s third season.
And there was no question the Fever would pick up that option.
Buy Caitlin Clark merch!
Clark is making $528,846 this year, per Her Hoop Stats, as part of the elevated rookie scales that came in the new collective bargaining agreement. Her current team option in 2027 is for $597,596.
But under a new stipulation in the CBA called EPIC (exceptional players on initial contracts), Clark will be able to renegotiate her fourth-year salary in 2027 while adding on an extension.
Clark is currently eligible to make up to the max, which is 17% of the team’s salary cap, in her fourth season because of her All-WNBA first-team nod in 2024. She would be eligible to make the supermax, which is 20% of the team’s salary cap, in 2027 if she wins MVP this season. Clark will also need to agree to an extension to get that renegotiated fourth-year salary, and those extension years can have a salary up to the supermax.
The Fever are the only team in the league to have two EPIC-eligible players; Aliyah Boston, who was All-WNBA second-team in 2025, renegotiated her fourth-year salary for 2026 to $1 million and will make the supermax each season from 2027-29.
Chloe Peterson is the Indiana Fever beat reporter for IndyStar. Reach her at chloe.peterson@indystar.com or follow her on X at @chloepeterson67. Get IndyStar’s Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Caitlin Clark Fever newsletter. Subscribe to IndyStar TV: Fever for in-depth analysis, behind-the-scenes coverage and more.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana Fever pick up fourth-year option on Caitlin Clark’s contract. Why it matters
Reporting by Chloe Peterson, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
