The Indiana Fever are probably the hottest team in the WNBA, and South Carolina basketball alum Aliyah Boston is a big reason why. Along with teammates Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell, the Fever's Big Three had another strong showing on Wednesday night.
In what became a 93-86 Fever win over the Los Angeles Sparks, the terrific trio combined for 66 points, 28 rebounds, 16 assists, and 4 steals while shooting over 50% from the field. For Boston's part, the former Gamecock chipped in a game-high 24 points (tied with Clark), led both teams in rebounding with 14, dished out 4 assists, shot 10-16 from the floor, and led both teams in +/-.
According to stats compiled by acrossthetimeline.com, Boston's box score brilliance put her in elite company. Before Wednesday night, only Brittney Griner and Lisa Leslie had ever posted multiple games in the same season with 20 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists, and 60% shooting. Now, Aliyah Boston has accomplished the feat.
Boston now has 8 games this year with at least 13 rebounds and 5 games with at least 20 points. Also, while she has been considered a good passer among WNBA post players, the high assist numbers are a newer trend for Boston. She has dished out at least 4 dimes in 6 of her last 8 games, and it should come as no surprise that the Fever are undefeated in those 6 contests. The Fever are 4-1 when she scores 20 points and 6-2 when she rebounds the ball 13 times. It is not hyperbole to say that, "As Aliyah Boston goes, so also go the Indiana Fever."
Boston, Clark, Mitchell, and the Fever have moved from last place in the standings in 2023 to the 6th seed in the current WNBA standings. The good news for South Carolina basketball fans who want to keep watching Aliyah Boston play: the Fever have clinched a spot in the WNBA playoffs, meaning that Boston will make her postseason debut later this month.