Aliyah Boston led the league in field goal percentage as a rookie. She was the first rookie to ever do it.
Boston was born in Saint Thomas U.S. Virgin Islands and moved to Massachusetts when she was 12 to have more basketball opportunities. She attended high school at Worcester Academy. Like many young stars Boston played for the FIBA World Cup and USA Basketball earning gold medals and MVPs before she graduated high school. This was only the beginning for her.
Boston at South Carolina
Boston had a legendary career for Dawn Staley at South Carolina. Following in Aja Wilson’s footsteps, Boston, a 6-foot-5 forward, forged her own path and left SC the most decorated player in program history. She has a laundry list of records and accolades but here’s an abridged list to name a few:
Honda Cup Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year (2022)
2x National Player of the Year (2022 unanimous; 2021 The Athletic)
3x First-Team All-America (2021 unanimous; 2022 unanimous; 2023 unanimous)
2x Naismith Defensive Player of the Year (2022, 2023)
NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player (2022)
She also etched her name in the Gamecock’s record books:
1st – Rebounds in a career (1,493)
1st – Offensive rebounds in a career (518)
1st – Defensive rebounds in a career (975)
1st – Triple-doubles in a career (2)
1st – Double-doubles in a career (82)
Most rebounds in career NCAA Tournament games (199)
Best rebounding average in career NCAA Tournament games (12.4)
Most offensive rebounds in career NCAA Tournament games (70)
This was no small feat as Columbia has seen many stars pass through. In the last nine seasons, 14 Gamecocks have been selected in the WNBA Draft, including 10 first-round picks. Boston is arguably the greatest to ever come out of the women’s basketball program under Dawn Staley’s tutelage.
Despite all the personal accolades, Boston also led her team to a National Championship in 2022 and the Final Four in 2021 and 2023. This is possibly the greatest example of Boston’s greatness. Her ability to win and be impactful with any team she is on.
Boston’s Prolific Rookie Season
Boston brought the winning over to her WNBA team, the Indiana Fever. Selected first in the 2023 WNBA Draft, she immediately became a huge contributor to a young Fever squad looking to become playoff contenders. Boston helped the Fever to eight more wins last season bringing their record up to 13-27 from 5-31 in 2022.
Boston was named the unanimous 2023 WNBA Rookie of the Year. She received all 60 votes from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. Boston was also awarded the Associated Press Rookie of the Year and named a 2023 All-Star starter.
The rookie averaged 14.5 points shooting 57.8% from the field, 8.4 rebounds 2.2 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocks per game.
Boston was a dominant presence and was often double-teamed every time she caught the ball. This extra attention caused the opponents’ defense to break down allowing the other Fever players to capitalize. Her being on the court makes her teammates better.
A Bright Future
Most recently, Boston was a member of the 2024 USA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament Team at the 2024 FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Antwerp, Belgium. Boston was not a huge contributor to the team but it was a great experience for her to play against high level competition with the best players in the WNBA.
Boston demanded attention from her opponents and will remain at the top of scouting reports in the 2024 WNBA season.
Boston is also extremely humble. She is a prime example to little girls watching looking to model themselves after a WNBA player.
Boston is only going to keep rising and has the potential to be the face of the WNBA.
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- Source: https://thegamehaus.com/sports/aliyah-boston-a-future-goat/2024/02/23/
