Fact check: Did Caitlin Clark make $29 million off-court move right after Indiana Fever’s playoff exit?

It is not surprising for Caitlin Clark to land stunning deals. She has earned her place as one of the most prominent faces of the WNBA. While Clark’s WNBA tenure is getting interesting, brands are rushing to sign her for endorsements. Recently, a rumor about the Fever guard’s huge paycheck surfaced, linking her to a whopping $29 million deal with audio streaming giant Spotify. Here’s the truth behind the rumor.Did Caitlin Clark sign a $20 million Spotify podcast deal?Caitlin Clark did not have a deal with Spotify. The rumor began with an X account called Fever Updates, which wrote: "Caitlin Clark has reportedly agreed to a $20 million deal with Spotify to launch a new exclusive podcast." The post added that the show would be weekly, would stream only on Spotify and would run through the start of the new WNBA season. It also promised a different guest every episode, drawn from the WNBA, the NBA and other industries.The claim fell apart on a basic check. As of now, no reliable outlet has reported a deal, and Clark's social handles have not announced anything about it. The post leaned on the word "reportedly" and gave readers nothing firmer.There is a reason the idea sounded believable. The three-time WNBA All-Star has a long break before returning to the floor with the Fever. A podcast would let Clark talk about things fans rarely hear during the season, and starting a show is the easiest way to do that. For now, Clark is not launching an exclusive show with Spotify.How can the Fever keep Clark happy after the early playoff exit?Indiana entered as the No. 6 seed, and the defending champion Las Vegas Aces closed the series in three games with a 94-83 win. Clark scored 18 points on 6-of-18 shooting and added four assists and two steals.Clark is under contract through 2027 after the Fever picked up the team option. Her All-WNBA honors in the first three years of the rookie deal also make her eligible to negotiate an EPIC extension. Linda Cohn, speaking on her own show, said the structure of that deal matters, including whether Clark would get an out if expectations are not met. On the roster, Cohn was blunt: "Indiana has to do more than pay its stars." She wants another perimeter defender next to Clark and more frontcourt help for Aaliyah Boston.The Fever star averaged 22.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 8.3 assists this season, and all 44 regular-season Indiana games aired on national networks. Sophie Cunningham is an unrestricted free agent, and Kelsey Mitchell, the team's leading scorer, is headed toward free agency as well. Coach Stephanie White has pushed for a steadier defensive identity, pointing to the standard Tamika Catchings set. Finding players who bring that edge may be the biggest call Indiana makes this summer.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.