Fever star Aliyah Boston makes WNBA history with record-breaking contract extension

Indiana Fever center signs 4-year, $6.3 million deal, the largest total value in league history

Apr. 18, 2026 at 9:35pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the action and energy of a WNBA basketball game, with sharp, overlapping planes of color representing the players, ball, and court.Aliyah Boston's record-setting contract extension cements her as a rising star and centerpiece of the Indiana Fever's future.Chicago Today

Indiana Fever star center Aliyah Boston has made WNBA history by signing a record-setting 4-year, $6.3 million contract extension with the team. The deal is the largest total value contract in WNBA history and the first time the league's Exceptional Performance on Initial Contract (EPIC) provision has been used.

Why it matters

Boston is a rising superstar in the WNBA and this landmark contract extension cements her as a cornerstone of the Fever franchise for years to come. The use of the EPIC provision also sets a new precedent for how top young talent can be retained in the league.

The details

The Fever signed Boston to the 4-year, $6.3 million extension on Friday. To qualify for the EPIC provision, players must be selected to the All-WNBA first or second team or be named league MVP during their first three seasons. Boston was named to the All-WNBA second team last season, making her eligible.

  • Boston was selected by the Fever with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft.
  • She was named Rookie of the Year in her first season and has been selected to the All-Star team in each of her first two seasons.
  • Last season, Boston averaged a career-high 15 points per game and finished 6th in WNBA MVP voting.

The players

Aliyah Boston

Star center for the Indiana Fever who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft. She has been named Rookie of the Year and an All-Star in her first two seasons.

Amber Cox

COO and general manager of the Indiana Fever, who said the team is thrilled to lock in Boston as a cornerstone of the franchise for years to come.

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What they’re saying

“I'm super blessed and grateful for this opportunity and to continue my journey here with the Fever. God is good! 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.”

— Aliyah Boston

“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. Despite already being an All-WNBA caliber player, Aliyah has just scratched the surface in terms of the player she can become.”

— Amber Cox, COO and general manager, Indiana Fever

What’s next

The Fever will look to build around Boston and fellow star Caitlin Clark as they aim to return to the playoffs and compete for a WNBA championship in the coming seasons.

The takeaway

Aliyah Boston's record-breaking contract extension is a landmark moment for the WNBA, as the league's top young talent is being rewarded and retained by their teams. This deal sets a new precedent for how elite players can be compensated and committed to their franchises early in their careers.