Aliyah Boston Discloses Strict Locker Room Policy as Backing Caitlin Clark Results in Bad Consequences for Fever Star

When the No. 22 point guard entered Indianapolis as a highly touted “Generational talent” out of Iowa, the former first-overall pick Boston was there to be the guide the rookie truly needed. Remember the two walking into the tunnel and Boston asking the Des Moines native to keep her head cool? However, the road was not as smooth– of course, for Aliyah. Clark is a passionate player and does not back down from making her point, no matter the cost. And last year, her check came out as six technicals. As for Aliyah? She was always separating the rookie from other players or the referees before a whistle came their way. And she did something similar this time around as well.

To open their regular season, Indiana hosted their rivals Chicago Sky yesterday. No doubt, the emotions were high in Gainbridge Fieldhouse and everyone knew it was going to be a physical matchup. And in the 93-58 victory, where the Fever saw impressive contributions across the board, came a moment of heat. Well, at least that’s what the officiating crew believes. When Sky’s Rebecca Allen went for a three with 4:39 left in the third quarter, Angel Reese positioned herself for an offensive rebound. For doing so, she pushed Fever’s Natasha Howard which Clark saw and asked for a whistle that never came. When the board landed with Reese, the point guard went for the ball and in the process to snatch the ball away, pushed the Sky forward to the ground with her left hand, something that was deemed unnecessary by the referees and upon review, upgraded to a flagrant-1. But that’s when Aliyah Boston got caught up as collateral damage, trying to help her teammate.

Angel quickly got up and went after Clark who was already leaving the spot. Seeing that, Boston didn’t take time to come in front of Reese to avoid the situation from escalating while the Sky star continued saying something to Caitlin. And just then, the broadcaster Ryan Ruocco announced with another whistle coming in, “that interaction between Boston and Reese results in offsetting technicals.” Only, the Fever star did not know that she also picked a call. Certainly, not only did she realize how helping her friend got her into trouble too but learning that in the postgame presser… well… Here’s how that conversation went:

In the press conference after the sweeping win over the visitors, a reporter asked, “Caitlin and Aliyah can you kind of go through the little issue there… What happened when you got the flagrant, Aliyah you got a technical. What kind of happened there?” No surprise for us, but Boston was. Jumping at the fact, she quipped, “Wait what? AB got the tech? I got the tech? OH NOOO!” And while Clark explained what the real situation was, all she could do was hold her head in disbelief as CC and HC Stephanie White sat beside her laughing.

While neither of the two agreed with the call, Clark appreciated Boston for having her back. “I wasn’t trying to do anything malicious. That’s not the type of player I am. You watch it. You know, it shouldn’t have been upgraded. But, again, that’s up to the ref’s discretion. But I appreciate AB having my back, I guess.”

No doubt, the Indiana Fever started their season off in style. But there’s a long way to go, and Aliyah knows it. In the presser, when she was asked about the margin that matched the second-largest in franchise history, she made a new locker room declaration that would probably stretch from the video room to the bus ride home.

“It was great, but I think what we talked about in the locker room is that don’t get comfortable. I mean, this is a great first win, but we have 43 more games to go. And so for us, it’s just about making sure that we lock in. We rewatch the game, look at what we need to work on, get in the gym and continue to work.”

Now, Kelsey Mitchell must have chuckled whenever she heard that. After all, she has been in awe of this attitude of Boston since 2023. “Aliyah has already come in and instilled that culture that so many of the players needed and she did it so effortlessly. To see AB kind of take off, take this team to another level without much experience, create the joy for our working, she’s just an awesome person.” We can clearly see that Boston is now planning to take it up a notch, and understandably so. This side is in heavy contrast from the side that celebrated making the playoffs, and Boston’s comments show they have their eyes set on the ultimate prize.

In fact, even White didn’t back down. During in-game chat with Ruocco and Rebecca Lobo, she mentioned how Boston is quite smart and understands how and when to make decisions the way she does. Aliyah’s backing of Clark, however, will not come without a cost, as the former Rookie of the Year now has a fine looming over her head. But that wouldn’t be a problem for Boston, as the face of the league has her covered.

Top Comment by Alex88

The WBL definitely have an official problem. No good and fair officials.

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How much fine will Aliyah Boston pay?

Clark accumulated a total of six technical fouls last year, so when Boston was hit with one in their season opener, CC couldn’t help but poke fun at her teammate. “Well, girl. Have fun paying that fine.” she said. In the WNBA, the fine for a technical foul increases based on the number of technical fouls accumulated throughout the season. While the first three technical fouls warrant a fine of $200 each, the next three will cost $400 each, while the 7th and subsequent techs would mean $800 plus an automatic one-game suspension.

Last year, Clark paid approximately $1800 in fines for her technical fouls. So when Boston jokingly asked Clark to pay half of her fine, Clark made sure her teammate was appreciated. “I got it,” she said while calling the fine “real hefty”. 

Although there’s a chance that the technical foul call on Boston along with the fine might get cancelled altogether if the team reaches to the league for the same. The WNBA, like other professional sports leagues, has a process for reviewing calls made during games. If a review determines that the technical foul was not warranted based on the rules or the circumstances, it can be rescinded along with the fine. Even Angel Reese was seen benefiting from the process last year.

After Reese was ejected from their game against the NY Liberty for “disrespectfully addressing” the official and then for “waving her hand in dismissal,” she grabbed back-to-back technicals during the game. However, the second technical foul was later rescinded upon review, and Reese’s fine was subsequently canceled.

While Boston would hope something similar will be in store for her, there’s no need to worry. Her star has her back either way, and so does she. The Indiana locker room has a chemistry that fresh teams rarely display, and they’ve made their opening statement at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse.