Aliyah Boston entered the WNBA as one of the brightest talents in her draft class. She was the number one pick, was named the unanimous Rookie of the Year, and made the All-Star team in her first season. She followed that up with another All-Star season and helped carry the Fever to the playoffs.
Despite her early success, Boston knew she still had things to work on. One change in her game was inspired by her teammate, Caitlin Clark. After the Fever’s win over the Dallas Wings, Boston was asked about the secret behind her improved speed this season.
“Just making sure that I was ready to come in,” Boston said. “Obviously, playing with the sprinter over here [Caitlin Clark], she likes to get up and down. I think, going into this year, I knew that a lot better than coming into my last year.”
With Caitlin Clark on the court, the Fever thrive when they play at a high pace. Boston made the adjustments necessary to fit perfectly into a faster system.
Boston is having her best season yet
Aliyah Boston is playing the best season of her young WNBA career. She is currently averaging 16.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game. Those numbers mark career highs in points, assists, field goal percentage, and free throw percentage. If Boston can keep up the same level of production for the rest of the season, she is on track to finish the year with career-best numbers all across the board.
Her ability to play faster and get up and down the court quickly isn’t the only skill Boston has worked on. In Clark’s absence, she stepped up big as the Fever’s leading playmaker, showcasing her ability to act as an offensive hub in the post.
Boston has also become an even more efficient scorer. In her first two seasons, she shot 57.8 and 52.9 percent from the field, respectively. This season, she is shooting 58.3 percent on 11.4 attempts per game. That makes her one of the most efficient players in the league and a constant threat around the basket—especially with Clark feeding her the ball in the right spots.
She was rewarded with an All-Star starter selection.
Boston and Clark play well together
Due to Clark’s injuries, Fever fans haven’t gotten a chance to see her and Boston share the court much yet. They have only played 302 minutes together this season. Over that time, the duo averages a 110.4 offensive rating and an 8.5 net rating.
Clark and Boston are a lethal pairing, providing a great mix of scoring and playmaking, and will be the main driving force behind any success the Fever will have this season and in the future. Other players, like Kelsey Mitchell, Natasha Howard, and Lexie Hull, are also crucial to the Fever’s success this season, but Clark and Boston are the two building blocks that everything revolves around.