Aliyah Boston just inked the richest deal in WNBA history, but for many fans, the celebration was immediately overshadowed by a single moment of perceived betrayal.

Just about two days after A’ja Wilson set the record for the biggest WNBA contract at $5 million, Aliyah Boston has now set a new record. Heading into her fourth WNBA season, the Indiana Fever star secured a four-year deal worth $6.3 million. Boston utilized the new EPIC (Exceptional Performance on Initial Contract), a rule introduced in the 2026 WNBA CBA, designed to reward elite young stars while they are still on their rookie-scale deals. 

Commemorating her fourth WNBA season, the Indiana Fever took to their official X page, sharing a video they captioned, “Aliyah Boston enters year 4 on an EPIC note.” The video highlighted Boston’s record as the first WNBA player to sign a contract under the new EPIC rule. It also pointed out several of her achievements and milestones. And as expressed in the video, Aliyah Boston is more than qualified for the deal.

Since joining the franchise, she has been nothing short of exceptional, earning an All-Star selection in each of her first three seasons. Her immediate impact was undeniable, as she earned WNBA Rookie of the Year honors, and her development culminated last season with the All-WNBA and All-Defensive selections that unlocked her EPIC eligibility.

Despite Clark’s absence, Boston delivered a dominant performance that saw her finish sixth in MVP voting, carrying the team by averaging a career-high 15.0 points on 53.8% shooting while setting a new franchise record with 361 total rebounds.

Boston’s leadership was vital in guiding the Fever to a 24-20 record and a playoff semifinal appearance, a run highlighted by their victory in the Commissioner’s Cup final, where she posted a dominant 12-point, 11-rebound, and 6-assist performance against the Minnesota Lynx.

Fans React to Indiana Fever’s Aliyah Boston Message After Historic Deal

Of course, Aliyah Boston’s new record-breaking contract sounds quite impressive, especially with the performance that has gone along with it, as highlighted in the Indiana Fever’s post. For some fans, however, there are still some bones to pick with Boston.

As one fan expressed, “F**k AB, making millions after just standing there as Caitlin Clark got slammed to the court by Chennedy Carter and acts like she is a friend and loves her … go to hell Fever.” This fan referenced a highly controversial incident from the 2024 WNBA season involving Caitlin Clark, Chennedy Carter, and Aliyah Boston.

Specifically, in a game against the Chicago Sky that season, Chicago’s Chennedy Carter knocked Caitlin Clark to the ground. At the moment of the foul, Aliyah Boston, who was holding the ball, didn’t react. She did not immediately confront Carter or physically intervene to defend her rookie teammate. Perhaps, this still feels like an unforgivable offense for this fan.

Some fans, however, feel that while the Fever might have given Aliyah Boston a financial reward, they didn’t do as much with the players they’ve brought in on their roster. As one fan said, “And you repay her by giving her a roster with 9 guards 🤣. Thank you for all your hard work. Here is a million, but don’t expect any help.” 

Another fan sharing the same sentiment also pointed out that the Fever should have brought in Madina Okot from the draft. But they selected Raven Johnson, another guard, instead. As the fan puts it, “and you could have drafted this woman👇 (Madina Okot) to give us two great bigs. But the front office doesn’t know their ass from their elbow and picked an overrated guard we didn’t need.” Okot, a 6-foot-6 center, was available when Indiana picked Johnson at No. 10. But she went as 13th overall to the Atlanta Dream.

Some fans were, however, excited with the news, even expressing their anticipation for the season ahead. “I can’t wait to see more of Aliyah’s 3 pointers this year!!,” one fan said. Another also said, “AB ups her game every season.”

With her record-breaking deal signed, Boston now faces the challenge of quieting the critics and proving she can lead a fully healthy Fever roster deep into the playoffs.