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

BusinessSportsMoneyCaitlin Clark Excited For Fever Season, Under Contract For Two More After Option ExercisedByTony East,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Tony East is an Indiana-based writer who covers the Pacers and Fever.Follow AuthorMay 09, 2026, 01:04am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.BROOKLYN, NEW YORK - APRIL 25: Caitlyn Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever gets shot up over Sabrina Ionescu #20 of the New York Liberty at Barclays Center on April 25, 2026 in Brooklyn, New York. (Photo by Michelle Farsi/Getty Images)Getty ImagesINDIANAPOLIS – Late last week, the Indiana Fever made the obvious a formality by exercising a team option in the contract of star guard Caitlin Clark.Clark, an MVP candidate who missed time due to injuries last season, is perhaps the best guard in the WNBA. She was named to the All-WNBA First Team as a rookie in 2024, then averaged 16.5 points and 8.8 assists per game last season.Her talent is undeniable, and the Fever look to be contenders in the coming season. Naturally, keeping the young star in Indiana as long as possible should be a goal for the franchise, and picking up her team option for 2027 does exactly that.Clark is on her rookie scale contract after being the first overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. Rookie scale deals come with a pre-determined salary value across four seasons – the new Collective Bargaining Agreement bumped up Clark’s salary for 2026 and 2027, but she’s still on that four-year pact. And rookie scale deals have another unique quirk in that they have team options that cover the final seasons, but they have to be picked up a full year in advance.As it pertains to Clark, that meant the Fever had to decide about her contractual future for the 2027 season before the 2026 campaign even began. In this specific instance, it was a no-brainer. The Fever would keep Clark at any contractua...