“My biggest job is I’m just feeding Aliyah the ball every single day. That’s what I’m going to do.” These were the words of rookie Caitlin Clark on joining the Indiana Fever locker room alongside Aliyah Boston. From first overall draft pick to another, these two have revitalized the offense of Indiana last year. Together, they transformed Indiana’s offense in 2024: Clark orchestrating plays and draining threes, Boston dominating the paint and scoring with ease.

Now, in 2025, only half of that dynamic is on the court. With Clark sidelined by injury, the offensive load has shifted squarely onto Boston’s shoulders in the middle. Yet, the bond between the two remains unshaken. One such moment of their connection was captured on camera during a game against Seattle. And Boston has spoken out to explain the viral gesture.

Before the game against Strom tipped off, the two players were seen embracing and chanting something. It caught the attention of the internet, with everyone curious to learn. Well, Boston has now given the confirmation on her podcast Post Moves with Candace Parker. “I mean it really just started one game where we just gave each other a hug and she was like, ‘You’re going to be amazing because you are amazing,'” the Indiana Fever player said.

“And then I said it back and we’ve just done it every game even though she has she’s been out for a while. Like I make sure I get my pregame hug. I think it’s nice to kind of just give that confidence to each other before every game and we just continue to do that,” Boston added, revealing her pre-game ritual with Caitlin Clark. While the two share these moments off-court, the return of this duo on court is still a distant dream.

Caitlin Clark may take more time to return to the hardwood

Before their matchup against the Dallas Wings, Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White gave an update on Caitlin Clark’s recovery timeline. “No return to practice,” White declared about the Fever guard. Still, there was some encouraging news. “She’s been able to get a little bit more of her full-court running with all her body weight. It’s really building up from doing minimal to then building some endurance, to do longer periods of time.”

White added, “She’s been able to do a little more on the court in terms of how she moves, but not in practice yet.” With that, the coach made it clear that fans may have to endure more games without the Caitlin Clark–Aliyah Boston duo. Compounding the challenge, point guards Sydney Colson and Aari McDonald are already out for the season with injuries.

To bolster the backcourt, Indiana signed veteran guard Odyssey Sims. However, Sims’ debut was underwhelming: thirteen minutes, two assists, one turnover, and two fouls. The Fever also brought in guard Kyra Lambert on a seven-day contract. Lambert has played her entire professional career in Europe, most recently helping Olympiacos capture the Greek A1 League title.

While Indiana works to reinforce its depth, what fans truly crave is Clark’s return to the court. A possibility by the end of this month. For that to matter, the Fever will need to stay in the thick of the playoff race until she’s back.