The idea that the Indiana Fever can thrive without Caitlin Clark? Aliyah Boston isn’t buying it. She’s been quick to dismiss any talk that the team performs better without their star playmaker. Boston knows all too well how crucial Clark is when it comes to the spacing and offensive flow that takes a serious hit when CC isn’t on the court. Yet, even with Clark sidelined, Fever are very much in the playoff bubble. How? Well, Boston’s consistent production and leadership have been key reasons.
She is making a compelling case not only as a dominant player but also as a vocal advocate for fairness on the court. Her leadership has been pivotal during the Fever’s recent five-game winning streak, a run where different players contributed, but Boston remained the steady heartbeat of the team. Her playmaking has evolved into one of her most crucial skills.
Before the Sky game, Boston joined the WNBA Tip-Off Show, where she also had her college coach Dawn Staley playing co-host and candidly spoke about her role. “I just want to continue to be a good focal point, just being able to get everyone involved, get the ball moving, keep it moving,” she said. Her assist numbers back this up, improving from 3.2 per game last year to 3.7 this season, a clear sign that Boston’s game is growing in both depth and breadth.
But when Staley pushed her, asking, “And Aaliyah, being that focal point, MVP candidates are, tell me why you should be the MVP of the WNBA. Be selfish. Be selfish.” Boston responded with her typical humility. “You know I have a hard time being selfish,” she began, before adding, “I leave that up to everyone else. But for me, just continue to be that dominant post player, moving the ball, rebounding, scoring points, being efficient. I feel like that’s always going to be my goal and that’s always what I strive to do.”
Boston herself acknowledged she dodged the question, saying she wasn’t even planning to answer it. But the ripple effect of her playmaking has become more vital than ever, especially with the Fever currently lacking a healthy point guard. Watching Boston in action, it’s clear she dominates all facets of the game. Her efficiency around the basket has never been higher. She’s become nearly unstoppable in the paint, improving her scoring while solidifying her role as a defensive anchor.
“She is a reliable paint presence who can contain ball-handlers driving to the basket,” say observers, noting how tall centers and forwards struggle when facing Boston’s physicality and timing. It’s clear she elevates the whole team’s defense. She may not be in the MVP conversation just yet, but there’s no doubt we’ll see her emerge as a serious contender in the coming years.
Boston also highlighted her teammate Kelsey Mitchell’s MVP-worthy performance: “The way she scores the ball, the way she gets up and down that floor.” She added that Mitchell often guards the opposing team’s best players. There’s no doubt these two have been holding it down for Indy.
But Boston’s season has also been marked by a recurring issue, officiating.
Aliyah Boston joins the Tip-Off Show to talk her role on the team, the MVP race, her signature shoe, and much more. pic.twitter.com/KQMRogP3ZQ
— We Need To Talk (@WeNeedToTalk) August 9, 2025
“I know you and the officials have a thing this particular season. Let the officials know what they’re seeing or not seeing when you’re fouling or not fouling,” Staley asked. Boston explained, “I feel like sometimes people don’t understand my strength. I feel like I’m a pretty strong person, and sometimes that just gets seen as like I’m doing something illegal.” She said that for her, it was important to keep communicating with the officials to understand what they were seeing, so that the next time she got the ball in the same position, she could adjust her play and score in a different way.
The frustration isn’t just about calls going against her; it’s about consistency. For example, during a third-quarter tussle against the Sun, Boston was tangled up with Tina Charles down low. Boston hit the deck after Charles swung at her while they jockeyed for position. It appeared to be a clear foul, but the referees didn’t see it that way.
Still despite these hurdles and an injury list that keeps growing, the Fever have kept winning.
Short-Handed Fever overpower Chicago Sky as Aliyah Boston contributed 15
The Indiana Fever faced a daunting challenge on Saturday, playing with just nine active players and missing key point guards Caitlin Clark, Aari McDonald, and Sydney Colson. But sometimes, adversity sparks something special. As head coach Stephanie White put it, “I look at them like I look at my kids. You sit back and smile. You see how they come together and how they bounce back.”
And bounce back they did. Despite being short-handed, the Fever delivered a commanding 92-70 victory over the Chicago Sky. Kelsey Mitchell led the charge with a stellar performance, scoring 26 points, dishing out a season-high eight assists, and committing just one turnover. Lexie Hull also stepped up, ending her recent scoring drought with 17 points, while Sophie Cunningham, starting at point guard, scored 10 of her 16 points before halftime.
Aliyah Boston, as always, was a force inside, contributing 15 points and anchoring the defense. The Sky, meanwhile, were without Angel Reese due to a back injury, which undoubtedly impacted Chicago’s depth and firepower.
Now, with this win, the Fever improved to 18-12 on the season, holding onto fifth place in the overall WNBA standings. In the Eastern Conference, they sit third, trailing the New York Liberty by three games and remaining 8.5 games behind the league-leading Minnesota Lynx. Fingers crossed they keep up the momentum!
The post With Caitlin Clark Out, Aliyah Boston Speaks Out on Referee Injustice While Making MVP Statement appeared first on EssentiallySports.