Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese's Projected Contract Raises After WNBA's New CBA Agreement

The Indiana Fever haven't done anything yet in the WNBA offseason, and their roster already got a lot more expensive.

While the contracts were signed under the terms of the old collective bargaining agreement, players on rookie-scale deals will see their earnings climb significantly starting with the 2026 season.

For now at least, Fever star Aliyah Boston can claim to be the WNBA's highest-paid player at $574,612, per Spotrac. Teammate Caitlin Clark and Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers are both moving into the $500,000 range as well. The Chicago Sky's Angel Reese is getting a raise to $350,692.

The new CBA goes beyond those base increases to reward the best young stars in the league.

ESPN's Alexa Philippou reported in March the WNBA and players' union agreed on the inclusion of a new Exceptional Performance on Initial Contract (EPIC) qualifier.

Players who fall under the designation can renegotiate the salary for the fourth years of their rookie contracts and sign new three-year extensions. If a player was named to an All-WNBA team, they're eligible to earn the max in Year 4. They can collect the supermax if they were named an MVP.

This accelerates how quickly marquee talent can receive their first max contract.

Boston, for example, would've had her salary locked in for 2026 ahead of becoming a restricted free agent in 2027. Instead, the second-team All-WNBA standout can push for the max from Indiana right now.

The same will be true for Clark next spring.

Reese, however, won't have that luxury just yet. An All-Star in each of her first two years, she's waiting for her first All-WNBA nod. Should that happen in 2026, she'll join Clark in watching her earnings move into the seven figures.

Still, seeing her salary jump by almost $300,000 is a sign of the gains WNBA players made in the new CBA.