2024 WNBA Draft: Indiana Fever Could Break the Bank to Draft Caitlin Clark

Caitlin Clark has finally made the most-awaited announcement of her arrival to the WNBA and the Indiana Fever are the front runners to draft her in six weeks. This is the second straight year that the Fever will be getting the first-pick honors. While luck seems to be favoring the WNBA team from all sides, Clark joining them might also be a bit of a problem for them financially. There are a few things that you can never skip in your life. Well, players like Clark are not acquired easily! 

The team has two options in hand but has control over only one. With luxury tax non-existent in the league, there is not much scope for super teams. The first option for the Fever would be to waive a few players to increase their cap space. This can be avoided if Clark agrees to a contract with small figures, but that’s not likely to happen.

The 22-year-old is expected to be a game-changer, so Fever might be forced to make some hard decisions this summer. However, at the same time, the WNBA allows its teams to go over the cap space limit, but only if it is an emergency or a critical situation. WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert might go easy on the Fever so that their rebuilding plan comes to an end with Clark’s addition.

Read more: Caitlin Clark Welcomed to Indiana Fever by Pacers Legend Shortly After Committing to 2024 WNBA Draft

With the above two options in hand, let’s see how the WNBA is going to change with Clark’s arrival. However, with $197,537 in cap space, Indiana might not be able to give Clark a contract similar to that of last year’s #1 pick.

Will Caitlin Clark be paid as much as Aliyah Boston?

The Indiana Fever recruited Aliyah Boston as the no.1 pick last season, who won the Rookie of the Year award. She earned $74,305 in her first season and she will get $75,792 in the upcoming year and $83,371 in the third year. The Fever have already dished out an expensive contract to Boston and with Clark mostly coming into the unit, they will have to spend more than what’s in hand. However, let’s not forget their cap space. 

Indiana has a cap space of $197,537, which is the 7th least out of the 12 teams in the WNBA. With Clark coming in, they will have to go beyond the limit, which is a concern for them. WNBA’s salary cap is quite different when compared with other famous leagues across the world. It is quite rigid and doesn’t give the scope to explore, which might lead to some forced decisions from the Indiana unit. 

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