Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White didn’t hold back after her team’s tight win over the Storm. She stacked up praise for Aliyah Boston like it was Oprah giving out cars:
“She’s just continued to step up to the challenge and grow, and be better. You know, she is really the rock of our team. She is even‑keeled. She is high IQ. Everybody trusts her on both ends of the floor. And she is our backbone, and she has been tremendous for us all year long.” - Stephanie White
White’s quote wasn’t empty praise as it came after Boston dropped 16 points and grabbed 12 boards in a 78‑74 win, marking six straight double-doubles and setting a Fever record in the process. Aliyah Boston’s consistency gave Indiana their fifth straight W and kept them in the thick of the playoff race, all without superstar guard Caitlin Clark.
As Clark rehabbed, Boston embraced an evolved role. White called her a facilitator and defensive anchor, capable of making reads and passes under pressure. “When teams key on her… she finds the open player and she makes the right play,” said White, nodding to Aliyah Boston’s growing playmaking role this season.
With averages hovering around 16 points, 8 rebounds, and nearly 4 assists per game, Boston has quietly become the team’s metronome. Aliyah Boston’s smart play and steady demeanor aren’t flashy, but they’ve held the Fever together in Clark’s absence.
If Indiana hangs its postseason hopes on someone other than Clark, this season may well hinge on Boston’s continued growth. As White said: she’s the backbone.
After Sunday’s buzzer-beating win over Seattle, Aliyah Boston shared what it takes for a team to find rhythm without their star guard:
“I think for us, once again, it’s about being consistent on that first half,” Boston told ESPN’s Holly Rowe. “I think everyone just stepped in when their name was called.”
Her leadership wasn’t just words. Aliyah Boston’s 16-point, 12-rebound line extended her streak of double-doubles to six, giving Indiana a spark while Clark watched from the sidelines.
Through her three-year tenure in the W, Boston has gone from high-rebound rookie to team hub in 2025. According to SB Nation, her usage and assist rates are career highs, and her turnover rate is the lowest it’s ever been. She’s comfortable distributing and dominating when needed.
The crucial part? Aliyah Boston is thriving under pressure. With Clark limited to just a dozen games, Boston and veteran Kelsey Mitchell have forged the Fever’s new identity: cold efficiency and team-first basketball.
If the team continues to believe that when their number is called, Boston’s quiet consistency could carry them past training camp expectations into playoff relevance.
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