Fever desperately need Aliyah Boston to fix fatal flaw, with or without Caitlin Clark

Former first-round pick and Rookie of the Year Aliyah Boston has grown significantly since her sophomore season. She's developed quickly as a player and has put much focus on areas she can improve on. Last season it was noticeable that she struggled on the defensive end of the floor and couldn't consistently keep up with the new pace around Caitlin Clark.

She spent the offseason competing in the new 3-on-3 league, Unrivaled. Boston needed to improve in keeping up with the pace of the game and playing in Unrivaled certainly paid off for Boston. Not only did she put up decent stats in Unrivaled, but it was clear she was making adjustments physically to better her skills.

Eight games into the 2025 season and there is one area the Fever need her to step up in to become an elite talent.

Aliyah Boston must become a triple-threat for the Fever to have long-term success

Aliyah Boston has made herself one of the league's best inside-the-paint players. In fact, she currently leads the WNBA in field-goal percentage (67%) and hit a rebounding milestone against the Chicago Sky getting her 750th one. However, it's outside of the paint from mid-range to the wing spots where she struggles.

Boston is an exceptional talent, but her engagement and aggressiveness as a scorer are unpredictable. In three of the past four games, she has taken just five shots and just seven two games prior. While three-point shooting is not a core part of her game, it's a skill the team can benefit from having her consistent in this area. She gives the team more opportunities if she can broaden her game.

Not every defensive scheme the Fever sees will fit the play for Boston scoring under the basket. Moving her around and not relying completely on her as a strong facilitator can throw off defensive game planning. She can't rely on being under the basket or shooting near the rim especially if teammates are playing off from three-point shooting.

In her career she has shot 31.6% from three-point range. Boston has the pieces to grow and become a triple-threat player, but to become elite she needs to be sharp in all phases. Being a stronger shooter from range can help take pressure off of her teammates. If she can become a reliable perimeter shooter, the Fever will have multiple options in which they could run their offense.