INDIANAPOLIS — Aliyah Boston is staying in Indiana long-term.
Sources confirmed to IndyStar on Friday afternoon that Boston is signing a four-year, $6.3 million contract with the Fever that spans from 2026-29. She will make $1 million in 2026, then the supermax (20% of the team’s salary cap) for three seasons from 2027-29.
ESPN reported it is the richest total salary in league history to date.
“I’m super blessed and grateful for this opportunity and to continue my journey here with the Fever. God is good!” Boston said in a statement. “I’m excited for the future ahead for both myself and for our team, and I can’t wait to keep building upon everything we have accomplished so far. Go Fever!”
As part of a new rule in the league collective bargaining agreement called EPIC (exceptional players on initial contracts), Boston was eligible for a max extension in her fourth year because she made the All-WNBA second team in 2025.
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Boston is the only player to be eligible for the EPIC extension in 2026, and she now becomes the first player in league history to benefit from it.
“Entering just her fourth season, Aliyah is already one of the best players in the WNBA. She’s been a foundational piece of the Indiana Fever since she was drafted here in 2023. 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,” general manager Amber Cox said. “Despite already being an All-WNBA caliber player, Aliyah has just scratched the surface in terms of the player she can become. In addition, her intangibles are unmatched. She is a leader, a connector and consistent contributor to our community. There is not a better person to go down in history as the first recipient of this type of groundbreaking agreement.”
This extension will replace her fourth-year rookie contract salary, which was projected to be $574, 612.
Boston was eligible for up to the regular max this year, which is $1.19 million, but opted to take a slightly lower salary in order to give the Fever some more flexibility this season. It allowed Indiana to do the following:
Caitlin Clark, in the third year of her rookie deal, is making $528,000.
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The Fever roster two of the three players eligible for an EPIC extension: Clark will be eligible in 2027, given her All-WNBA first-team nod in 2024. Currently, she is eligible for the regular max, but that could change to the supermax if she wins MVP this year.
Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers is also eligible in 2028 as she made All-WNBA second-team in 2025.
This story was updated with reaction and more information.
Chloe Peterson is the Indiana Fever beat reporter for IndyStar. Reach her at capeterson@indystar.com or follow her on X at @chloepeterson67. Get IndyStar’s Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Caitlin Clark Fever newsletter. Subscribe to IndyStar TV: Fever for in-depth analysis, behind-the-scenes coverage and more.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Aliyah Boston gets EPIC extension with Indiana Fever, WNBA’s richest total salary: ‘God is good!’
Reporting by Chloe Peterson, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
