Veteran guard Erica Wheeler expressed her excitement for the Indiana Fever’s remarkable comeback against the Atlanta Dream with two simple words for the team’s social media department: “Aliyah Boston.”
In contrast, Caitlin Clark, the overall No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft, was more animated in her praise. “AB’s a dawg,” Clark remarked after witnessing Boston’s impressive performance. “She’s all over the glass, came up with clutch buckets, tied it for us, solid in overtime. She’s just different.”
While Clark has garnered attention for her historic rookie season and Kelsey Mitchell has shone since returning from the Olympics, Boston has occasionally flown under the radar. However, she made a significant impact during the thrilling match on Sunday.
Boston dominated the game, achieving a career-high of 30 points, alongside 13 rebounds and five assists, shooting 11-of-16 from the field. Notably, she scored 14 of her points in the fourth quarter and overtime, with a perfect 7-of-7 shooting rate. Her critical contributions included the game-tying basket with just 18 seconds left in regulation and the decisive score during overtime. This performance placed her among elite company, as she became one of only three players this season to record a game with at least 30 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists.
To highlight Boston’s pivotal shots, it’s essential to understand how they illustrate the strategic challenges defenders face against the Fever. As time dwindles in the fourth quarter, the Fever, with a chance to equalize, turned to a two-player dynamic involving Clark and Boston at the top of the key. Boston set a screen for Clark, who drove left before passing back to Boston, enabling her to penetrate the defense and score easily.
“When you look at how they’re playing, you just have to be able to make the right read if they jump out too early because they’re assuming that something’s gonna happen,” Boston explained. “Just being able to make a move right in that split second is vital, especially with someone like Caitlin, who could be getting the ball.”
In a critical moment during overtime, with the score tied at 100-100, the Fever isolated Boston on the block. Although the Dream attempted to send a double team, Boston swiftly kicked the ball out before reposting for a one-on-one opportunity. With ample space in the paint and her back to the basket, she displayed her prowess as a low-post scorer by utilizing a soft jump hook to take the lead.
Earlier in the season, the Fever faced challenges in their offensive cohesion, and Boston struggled as the team adopted a high-paced, pick-and-roll style. However, following a second “training camp” during the Olympic break, the Fever appeared revitalized, enabling them to showcase a more synchronized offensive effort. Now, defenses face a dilemma in deciding which player to focus on, whether it’s Clark driving to the hoop or allowing Boston to dominate in the post.
Since the Olympic break, Boston has experienced games with low scoring while her teammates flourished. In contrast, when defenders collapse on Clark during ball screens, Boston has capitalized on one-on-one matchups. As of now, the Fever boast an impressive 8-2 record post-Olympics, owning the league’s best offensive rating at 110.4 during that timeframe.
While the Fever continue to develop their young roster, particularly on the defensive end, their offensive explosiveness renders them a formidable contender as the playoffs approach. Boston voiced confidence in the team’s potential, stating, “I think we know that we’re capable of beating any single team just because of the pace we play at and the weapons we have all around the floor. We’re in a good spot knowing that even if we’re down, no matter what time it is in the game, we can mount a comeback.”
