A bonus made Indiana Fever’s Erica Wheeler highest-paid WNBA player, allows her time off

INDIANAPOLIS — Erica Wheeler can finally take a step back and relax. The Indiana Fever point guard is taking a break from overseas play this winter, thanks to a $40,000 time-off bonus provided by the team. This bonus restricts Wheeler from leaving the country for more than 90 days. With this break, Wheeler feels a significant improvement in her body, as the strains of a 40-game season no longer affect her. However, her mind remains active and she plans to use this downtime to engage with the community.

Moreover, Wheeler is now the highest-paid player in the WNBA for the 2023 season, earning a salary of $242,154. This surpasses Arike Ogunbowale, who previously held the highest-paid title with a salary of $234,936.

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Kelsey Mitchell, the second-highest-paid Fever player in 2023, holds the 13th spot on the league list with a salary of $202,000. Mitchell is currently playing overseas in Spain for Spar Girona during the offseason.

Although Wheeler has received numerous offers from overseas teams, she turned them down to stay in the U.S. and be close to her fiancée, Danielle Edwards, who is an assistant coach for the SMU women’s basketball team.

During the offseason, Wheeler plans to spend time in Dallas while her fiancée is in season. She does not anticipate playing basketball in the U.S., such as Athletes Unlimited, but is focused on immersing herself in the community and spending time with her family, which she has been unable to do in the past nine years.

While taking a break from basketball, Wheeler is actively involved in charitable efforts. She has been hosting free camps in various locations, including her hometown of Miami and one in Indianapolis where Fever coach, Christie Sides, and general manager, Lin Dunn, were in attendance.

However, Wheeler’s camps are not solely about basketball. She aims to make a meaningful impact in her community by being present from start to finish, dedicating her time from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. to encourage and support the participating girls.

In addition, every child attending her camp receives a free pair of shoes, a promise she made sure to include in her brand contract with Adidas. Wheeler believes that this act of providing new shoes can make a difference in households where children may not have had the opportunity to own a new pair.

Looking ahead, Wheeler has committed to the Fever for the 2024 season. She is currently in the second year of her two-year, $444,308 contract.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Fever’s Erica Wheeler is highest-paid WNBA player with time-off bonus