Despite the No. 6 seed, the Indiana Fever were hoping to make a deep run in the postseason this year. However, Caitlin Clark and Co. came up short against the defending champions. The Las Vegas Aces edged them 2-1 in the first round. For WNBA analyst Linda Cohn, the result of this series may have an impact on how the Fever now have to approach an upcoming contract situation.
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“Will [Caitlin] Clark have an out if expectations are not met? Now, Aaliyah Boston already signed her epic extension, and the structure gave Indiana additional roster flexibility early in that contract. Now, whether Clark does something similar, this is going to be an interesting basketball question,” said Cohn on the Linda Cohn show on October 4.
Presently, Clark is under a four-year rookie contract that will keep her with the team through 2027. For Cohn, the teams needs a change in the form of an upgrade to both the overall roster as well as defensive support.
“That doesn’t mean she should take less money,” she added. “Now, don’t pull a Jalen Brunson because I don’t have as much faith in this management as I do with my Knicks. It means Indiana has to do more than pay its stars. It still has to improve the roster around them.”
While the Fever already exercised their team option at the start of this year to extend Clark’s contract for a fourth year through 2027, they cannot afford to lose her even after that season.
Clark is set to earn $597,596 in 2027. However, it’s not too far-fetched to suggest that Clark deserves much more than this. As per the latest CBA, Clark is now eligible to negotiate for an EPIC (exceptional performance on initial contract). Clark has already fulfilled the condition for this contract (make it to the All-WNBA team within the first three years of the rookie contract).
If Clark does indeed sign an EPIC extension, she can make the max salary permissible, which is 17% of the salary cap.
All signs are pointing to the fact that the Fever, quite naturally, is going to give Clark an EPIC extension. And why would they not?
Caitlin Clark has been their second-best scorer this year, only behind Kelsey Mitchell. Clark’s 22.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game this season have been instrumental in Indiana achieving the sixth seed. Clark has also led the league in assists per game (8.3) for the majority of the season, only finishing closely behind Alyssa Thomas, who recorded 8.5 assists per game. Clark was only fifth in 3 PM.
More than the stats, there is no denying the fact that the Caitlin Clark effect is most nuanced off the court, especially in attracting commercial value for the Fever franchise. Indiana is the only team in the WNBA to have all of its 44 games on national networks.
Fever’s Game 3 against the Aces on Thursday was the third most-watched WNBA playoff game outside of the WNBA Finals, averaging 2.25 million viewers on USA Network, as per the data revealed by Nielsen.
So handing out Clark an EPIC extension looks like the most obvious choice for Indiana.
To add to their worries, Clark is not the only player with a contract situation, as Cohn points out another key player in the Fever squad.
“Okay. Sophie Cunningham is also an unrestricted free agent. She returned to Indiana on a one-year deal, and Amber Cox clearly values what she brings beyond the box score. She said it. Cox called Sophie a leader, a connector, and an important voice in the locker room. Well, that matters,” Cohn said.
Cohn also adds that the Fever may need to equip their squad defensively to better suit Clark’s explosive offensive gameplay.
“Stephanie White discussed developing a consistent defensive mentality and referenced the old Fever teams, mentioning Tamika Catchings, who established that identity every night. Tamika Catchings- players like that don’t grow on trees. Well, that’s what Indiana needs now. And give Clark another perimeter defender. Give Boston more frontcourt help,” said Cohn.
Kelsey Mitchell, the Fever’s top scorer this season, is also a free agent in the upcoming offseason.
So only time will tell how the Fever will structure their squad’s contracts. For now, the fans will turn their attention to the ongoing semifinals.