Aliyah Boston just earned a massive payday with the Indiana Fever. Following a brief free agency period, she landed the richest total salary in WNBA history.
Photo Credit: Jineen Williams | Ballislife
2026 WNBA free agency and offseason can be summed up in one word: A whirlwind.
Due to a historic new collective bargaining agreement, the free agency period was jam-packed within a few days. While a new $7 million salary cap and $1.4 supermax salary didn’t alter every team, there were plenty of twists and turns.
Jackie Young of the Aces was the first million-dollar player, and A’ja Wilson secured the WNBA’s first $5 million dollar contract. On Friday, Boston agreed to return to the Hoosier State and the Fever on a historic four-year, $6.3 million contract extension. First reported by Alex Philippou of ESPN, Boston will receive a salary of $1 million in 2026, $1.582 million in 2027, $1,740,200 in 2028, and $1,914,220 in 2029—totaling $6,236,420.
“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 press release. “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!”
Drafted No. 1 out of South Carolina by Indiana in the 2023 WNBA Draft, Boston was the initial blueprint to the Fever’s rebuild. Earning Rookie of the Year honors, she’s since been named a three-time WNBA All-Star, All-Defensive Second Team, All-Rookie Team, and Commissioner’s Cup Champion in 2025.
A native of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Boston has established herself as one of the most dominant interior forces, who’s expanded her game to the perimeter. A two-way star, Boston is a defensive standout, and one of the most lethal players in the post.
Boston Led Fever to Deep Improbable Run in 2025
Since arriving in Fever nation, Boston has led Indiana to two consecutive playoff runs. Most notable, the Fever faced an early-season identity test without their matriarch Caitlin Clark, but prevailed through several injuries, particularly later in the season to Aari McDonald, Sophie Cunningham, and Sydney Colson. Earning a triumphant Commissioner’s Cup victory over the Minnesota Lynx, Boston and company brought Indiana its first trophy since 2012.
It may not have resulted in a championship trophy, but Boston and the Fever embarked on a deep playoff run. Under head coach Stephanie White, the Fever finished with a 24-20 record, good for the No. 6 seed, and earned an improbable 2-1 series first-round victory over the Atlanta Dream.
Aliyah Boston defensive highlights playoffs 2025.
One of the most underrated aspects of Fever’s run was AB’s defense as an anchor, especially her defense vs A’ja Wilson in the Aces series pic.twitter.com/0NVYilKBfR
— Ashwin (@Sudharsan_ak) October 4, 2025
Their enchanted season did not end there. They trounced the Aces in Game 1 of the Semifinals, and even challenged them to an exhilarating Game 5. However, they ultimately lost in overtime, but the Fever were just one victory away from their first WNBA Finals appearance since 2015.
A bona fide starter through the first 124 games of her WNBA storied career, Boston recorded a career-best 14.5 points in 2025. In 44 games, the former Gamecock posted averages of 8.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.2 steals, and shot 53.8% from the field, 20.7% from beyond the arc, and 76.2% from the free throw line. The Fever re-signed Sophie Cunningham, Lexie Hull, and extended a supermax salary to Kelsey Mitchell in free agency. Selecting Raven Johnson, Jessica Timmons, and Justine Pissott in the 2026 WNBA Draft, the Fever further bolstered their frontcourt in free agency through the signings of Monique Billings and Myisha Hines-Allen.
Aliyah Boston, A’ja Wilson Reset the Market
The transformational CBA displays the significant impact it will have on current players and the future generations of players. In a matter of weeks, Boston rose from a rookie salary to the highest-paid. It’s no ordinary extension—Boston secured the richest total salary ever, a record-breaking contract that creates a new standard alongside Wilson. In this new era, both players define what’s to come.
But how so?
Under the old CBA, Boston signed a three-year $233,468 rookie-scale contract with the Fever. She was set to earn $94,740 in her last year of the deal, but instead earned a 955 percent increase in salary for the 2026 season. Per Philippou, Boston will take reduced pay in order for the Fever to compete. Set to earn 20% of the cap through 2029, she will make $1 million instead of $1.19 million in 2026.
“AB’s just the rock. She’s the one who keeps everybody settled, keeps everybody calm, manages situations.”
Aliyah Boston isn’t going anywhere. Indiana is home pic.twitter.com/zA0lTXTTL2
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) April 17, 2026
Included in the new CBA is the Exceptional Performance Initial Contract (EPIC), which permits top-performing players on rookie contracts to negotiate the final year of their rookie contract. Acting as an extension, a player must earn All-WNBA First or Second Team honors, or Most Valuable Player within the first three years. This was evident given that Boston is entering her fourth season, and garnered All-WNBA Second Team in 2025.
In fact, Boston is the first player in WNBA history to sign a deal under the EPIC provision. Such deals will affect rookies moving forward, such as Bueckers and Clark, who both earned such honors.
Boston, Clark, and company will begin training camp on April 19 and will host Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings for the home opener on May 9.
Sara Jane Gamelli is the Managing Editor and Senior Staff Writer at Ballislife.com, as well as Director of Ballislife Bets. Follow her on X at @SaraJGamelli.
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