Indiana Fever Extend Aliyah Boston With Record 4-Year, $6.3M Contract Extension

Indiana Fever forward Aliyah Boston agreed to a four-year, $6.3 million contract extension with the Fever, her agent Zack Miller told ESPN, giving her “the richest total salary in league history to date.”

“Three-time WNBA All-Star Aliyah Boston has agreed to a four-year, $6”

ESPN

The deal is tied to a new provision in the WNBA’s recently ratified collective bargaining agreement, with ESPN noting Boston was eligible for the pay bump through that new rule.

ESPN

ESPN reported that Boston will earn $1 million in 2026, lower than the standard $1.19 million max deal she was eligible for, because she “choos[es] to take less money to help the Fever pay others on their roster.”

ESPN also said Boston will then earn 20% of the cap in each subsequent season through 2029.

The extension is described as a WNBA record by multiple outlets, including theScore, which said it is “the largest ever signed in the WNBA.”

The IndyStar account similarly described the contract as spanning from 2026-29 and said Boston will make $1 million in 2026 before the supermax at 20% of the team’s salary cap for three seasons from 2027-29.

In a statement carried by ESPN and IndyStar, Boston said, “I’m super blessed and grateful for this opportunity and to continue my journey here with the Fever. God is good!” and added, “Go Fever!”

Several reports tied Boston’s extension to the WNBA’s new collective bargaining agreement and specifically to the EPIC provision, which ESPN said is part of the league’s “recently ratified collective bargaining agreement.”

ESPN described how Boston could “effectively replace what she was set to earn in 2026 and have an accelerated path to earning the max,” and it said the pay bump is available through that new provision.

ESPN La Crosse 105.5

Yardbarker’s account framed the same mechanism as “the EPIC provision enables top-performing players on rookie contracts to renegotiate the final year of their rookie contract as part of a multi-year extension,” and it said the extension is contingent on being named to either the All-WNBA First or Second Team, or named Most Valuable Player within their first three years of play.

Yardbarker added that Boston was named to the All-WNBA Second Team in 2025, which it said made her eligible for the EPIC renegotiation in her fourth year.

IndyStar similarly said Boston was eligible for a max extension in her fourth year because she made the All-WNBA second team in 2025, and it called Boston “the only player to be eligible for the EPIC extension in 2026.”

The Hawkeyes Wire piece also described the EPIC provision as allowing players to “effectively replace what they were set to earn in 2026” and said Boston’s eligibility came after making the All-WNBA second team in 2025.

ESPN and IndyStar both gave the same basic salary timeline: $1 million in 2026, then 20% of the cap from 2027 to 2029.

Indiana’s decision to lock Boston into the extension is presented as part of a broader roster strategy heading into the 2026 season, with ESPN saying the Fever has sought to build around Boston, 2024 No. 1 pick Caitlin Clark, and star guard Kelsey Mitchell.

“Indiana Fever ink Aliyah Boston to record-setting WNBA contract extension In a monumental announcement made by the Indiana Fever on April 17, the franchise revealed that they have agreed to a WNBA-record-setting four-year contract extension with cornerstone power forward Aliyah Boston, giving the three-time league All-Star the richest total salary in league history to date”

Hawkeyes Wire

ESPN reported that Mitchell was a free agent and “just signed a one-year deal at the supermax to return to Indiana,” and it described Boston’s willingness to take less than the $1.19 million max deal in 2026 as a way to help the Fever “pay others on their roster.”

IndyStar spelled out the roster-building angle by saying Boston’s decision “opted to take a slightly lower salary in order to give the Fever some more flexibility this season,” and it connected that flexibility to specific signings.

IndyStar said Indiana used that flexibility “to do the following: - Sign Kelsey Mitchell on a one-year deal for the $1.4 million supermax,” and it also listed signings for Lexie Hull and Monique Billings.

The On3 report added that after the new CBA went into place, the Fever “re-signed Kelsey Mitchell to a one-year, $1.4 million – a supermax deal under the CBA” and also brought back “both Sophie Cunningham and Lexie Hull.”

On3 further said Indiana selected former South Carolina guard Raven Johnson with the No. 10 overall pick as the headliner of their WNBA Draft class, and it reported Indiana is scheduled to start the 2026 regular season on May 9 against Azzi Fudd, Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings.

Across these accounts, Boston’s extension is portrayed as the central anchor around which the Fever’s 2026 plans are organized.

The extension drew immediate reaction inside the Fever organization, with Caitlin Clark publicly congratulating Boston after the deal was announced.

Marca reported that Clark “took to social media to congratulate her,” and it quoted Clark’s post on X: “Absolutely congrats AB!!!!!”

IndyStar

ESPN also included comments from Fever general manager Amber Cox, who said, “Entering just her fourth season, Aliyah is already one of the best players in the WNBA.”

Cox added, “We’re thrilled to be able to reward her with this new contract and make history, and most importantly, lock her in as a cornerstone of the Fever for years to come,” and she said, “Despite already being an All-WNBA caliber player, Aliyah has just scratched the surface in terms of the player she can become.”

The Mirror US tabloid echoed Cox’s remarks and included additional language about Boston’s “intangibles,” quoting Cox as saying, “In addition, her intangibles are unmatched. She is a leader, a connector and consistent contributor to our community.”

Boston’s own statement, carried by ESPN and IndyStar, emphasized gratitude and forward-looking motivation, with Boston saying, “I’m super blessed and grateful for this opportunity and to continue my journey here with the Fever. God is good!” and adding, “Go Fever!”

TheScore’s report framed the extension in the context of Boston’s on-court production and availability, noting she started all 44 games for the Fever in 2025 and that Indiana reached the postseason despite Clark missing the final two months due to a groin injury and a bone bruise in her left ankle.

Beyond Indiana, the extension is presented as a milestone for the WNBA’s new economics under the collective bargaining agreement, with Yardbarker and ESPN both emphasizing how the contract reflects the league’s ability to offer bigger deals.

Yardbarker described the change in stark terms by saying, “Keep in mind the max salary under the previous CBA was roughly $250,000,” and it contrasted that with the new reality that “Now they are getting over a million.”

MARCA

Yardbarker also said “The minimum salary this season is over $270,000,” and it added that this minimum is “That is $20,000 more than last year's maximum salary.”

ESPN and Yardbarker both pointed to the CBA’s new EPIC mechanism as a driver of earlier earning potential, with ESPN saying Boston can “have an accelerated path to earning the max,” and Yardbarker describing how EPIC lets players “renegotiate the final year of their rookie contract.”

The Hawkeyes Wire report said the extension is “the first time any team has used the EPIC provision of the new WNBA collective bargaining agreement,” and it tied that to Boston’s All-WNBA Second Team status in 2025.

Looking ahead, On3 reported that Indiana is scheduled to start the 2026 regular season on May 9 against Azzi Fudd, Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings, and it also said the Fever selected Raven Johnson with the No. 10 overall pick.

In the immediate aftermath of the deal, Marca framed the next competitive focus as Caitlin Clark leading the Fever into the WNBA season as coach Stephanie White outlines strategy.