While Caitlin Clark dominates headlines and Kelsey Mitchell provides backcourt firepower for the Indiana Fever, it is center Aliyah Boston’s two-way presence which makes them a legitimate contender. That is why Boston has become the heartbeat of the Indiana Fever’s playoff push. ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo underscored that reality after Boston exited Wednesday’s game against Seattle.

“They’ve been historically good offensively, but their interior presence on the defensive end in particular could use a little bit of work, and that especially looks suspect when Aliyah Boston isn’t on the floor. It looks like she avoided serious injury here, but again, we don’t have official word,” Lobo said in a post on X by espnW on July 30.

She highlighted Boston’s impact on both ends. Defensively, her size and positioning anchor the interior, while offensively she functions as a hub who can also stretch the floor. Boston is the only Fever post player who consistently faces up and knocks down threes, giving the team crucial spacing.

Lobo pointed out that without Boston, Indiana’s offense stalls, as seen against Seattle when the Storm surged in the third quarter after Boston left the game. Clark and Mitchell had to carry the scoring load late, but Lobo stressed that Boston’s presence is essential if the Fever want to contend for a championship.

“They desperately need Aliyah Boston to make a true championship run,” Lobo stated.

Boston was taken off the court in the second quarter, with coach Stephanie White saying “it wasn’t worth the risk” to continue playing her.

And it’s not hard to see why.

Boston’s defensive coverage, especially during the transition play, and her perimeter shooting have been vital for this Fever team to close out games in their favor.

She has started all 25 games she has played this season, averaging 17.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.2 steals per game, shooting 52.8% from the field and 47% from beyond the arc, which is the second-highest in the entire league.

She is only third in this high-scoring team in average points, and leads them in steals, blocks, and rebounds, thus establishing herself as a two-way threat when on the floor.

But despite having a solid core of Boston, Clark, and Mitchell, Indiana has appeared shaky at times, with its defensive vulnerabilities exposed. The question remains whether they can plug these gaps in time.

Can Indiana Go All The Way?

Indiana is a free-scoring team. But that leaves them exposed to conceding a lot of points in transition. They hold the infamous WNBA record of being the only team to lose four matches in a season while scoring 100 or more points. And they achieved this unwanted feat even before the halfway mark of this season.

The Fever’s success hinges on their star trio staying healthy. Clark has already missed time with injuries, and Boston has battled a lingering lower-leg issue. Indiana’s lack of bench depth magnifies every absence.

So Indiana’s lack of bench depth to replace any of their main starters hurts them.

Discipline is another concern. Clark sits on seven technical fouls, meaning her next will trigger an automatic suspension and fine. Combined with the intense media spotlight, the Fever often find themselves in avoidable controversies.

Stephanie White will need to figure out these roster issues and tactical gaps to mount a serious run this season.

At 18-10 for the season, the Fever take on the Portland Fire next on Friday and will face the number one side, the Lynx, on Sunday, August 2.