Former first overall pick and 2023 Rookie of the Year recipient Aliyah Boston is really starting to make her mark in the WNBA. Entering her third season, the expectations are higher than they've ever been for her as one of the faces of the franchise and the entire league.
The chemistry between her and first year player Caitlin Clark was almost instant and it's anticipated that it will build even stronger immediately this season. Boston is 2 for 2 when it comes to making the All-Star roster and for good reason.
Boston had huge success in Unrivaled but must carry it over
Fever fans should not panic if numbers for Boston decrease slightly this season due to the depth of their roster. With her off-season efforts she will be making much larger contributions in different ways for the team.
Anyone who tuned in immediately saw an improvement in every phase of her game. She looks better overall, physically and confidently, despite a slow start to her 2024 season and effort to lose weight and build muscle during her first off-season. One area that Boston struggled with was her aggressiveness to attack the game.
Boston acknowledged at the end of last season she always has areas to improve in. Throughout her time playing in Unrivaled she looked like a totally different player. She was moving swiftly and playing tough. Boston found a new aggressive style when it came to playing under the basket and rebounding.
She had a big impact for the Fever last year in this category leading the team with 8.9 rebounds per game and finished third in points per game, an area she spent a lot time working to improve in the 3x3 league.
Playing in the offseason allowed for improvement in organized basketball. Boston clearly improved her shooting, all while gaining confidence playing in space. She takes stronger initiative while playing under the basket and helps in extending plays on the offensive end. It wasn't just about stats when playing during the off-season, but playing in a 3x3 league also forced players to sharpen their defensive skills while playing on a full court.
Since Unrivaled wrapped up, Boston remains committed to building on the progress she has made. She has dedicated much of her time working out with the new coaching staff of the Fever to get a head start on the new season and grow acclimated to the new system.
Production may not look like big numbers for Boston this season as fans are used to, but she is likely to increase her value to the team in much needed ways.