Part 2/6:
Contract Situations at Play
One of the significant reasons for her exclusion relates to the various contract situations within the team. Current contracts such as Dantas, who is under a one-year deal valued at $90k, and the immovable contract of K'tie L. Samson, complicate the salary cap landscape. Fagbenie is a restricted free agent, which means her future with the team was not guaranteed.
In WNBA terms, a restricted free agent does not ensure a definitive hold on a player, especially if other teams are prepared to make competitive offers. The Indiana Fever had to evaluate the financial implications of protecting Fagbenie versus other players whose contracts might provide greater flexibility.