It was the 2021 Final Four game for the Gamecocks, and they were all prepared, especially Aliyah Boston. But things didn’t go as planned. Just before the buzzer, Boston missed a layup, and South Carolina was knocked out of the tournament. And just like that, Stanford advanced to the championship game. Unlike others, though, Boston took the loss as fuel and came back stronger the next year to win it. “Everyone had a picture of me crying,” said Boston after the victory. She was also named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four. Years have passed since then, and she is now in the W “ready to get to work” each day.

And her role only grew stronger when she joined the Fever’s roster. So, as Boston enters the 2025 season with over two years of experience under her belt, she is no less than the backbone of the team’s offense. After all, Stephanie White did once compare her to Nikola Jokic, so that should tell you a lot. “We’re going to use her a little more like a hub, like a Nikola Jokic, where she gets the ball and is involved in creating for others,” White had said. You are correct in thinking that the coach might be putting too much pressure on someone who has played just two seasons. After all, last year the extent of her hub was limited to the block.

Boston herself admitted, albeit with confidence a day ago, saying, “But now I’m the hub, it could be the mid-post, the three, the corner. So it varies… it’s just really just understanding where I’m at on the floor and what my next move should be.” The confidence, the acceptance, and the undeniable talent? It tells us only one thing: She might not have much to worry about. But despite that, as one national analyst feels, the Indiana Fever standout may need a reality check. As Rosalina Lee analyzed the Fever vs Atlanta game in her latest YouTube video, she didn’t hold back.

“Aliyah Boston, you know, she’s still kicking off the dust because she missed a bunch of layups which I am not going to say I am worried yet but she definitely needs to, like, make those layups,” Lee remarked and we can see where it comes from, considering that Boston now has a greater burden of drawing defenders, creating passing opportunities for others, and keeping up her pace. Over the three preseason games, Boston had 13 missed field goals and four missed free throws, which means a total of 17 missed shots.

Most of those were from inside or midrange, indicating room to improve her finishing or decision-making in the paint. Even her free-throw shooting needs attention, as she went just 6-of-10 overall. But then again, it was just preseason games. There is a lot more ahead. Notably, these games marked the first time since 2007 that the Fever had three All-Stars in a single season (Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell). And it’s showing, too.

Indiana Fever HC paints a bigger picture of All-Star trio…

No doubt, the Indiana Fever had an incredible run last season, especially since the team finished with a 20-20 record and earned its first playoff berth since 2016. Just consider this: their points per game were 85.0, and their offensive rating was 106.1 — both third-best in the WNBA. Meanwhile, their pace was 79.8 possessions per game, which ranked second-best in the league.

Nearly perfect, right? But with the arrival of new head coach Stephanie White, everything changed. When she took the throne, she began building upon the offensive foundation while addressing the team’s defensive shortcomings. She revitalized the Fever’s offense by promoting a fast-paced, instinct-driven style of play. She encouraged players to leverage their basketball IQ, allowing for more freedom and creativity on the court.

“I want to play with great pace… I also want our players to use their instincts and to play free,” she said in December. “We’ll have certain sets that give us space to operate, and then whichever pass we make determines one of three actions that our players can read from.”

And quite evidently, it worked too. That’s why the Indiana Fever, led by their All-Star trio of Clark, Mitchell, and Boston, started with an undefeated 3-0 record. But the question is: Can it get any better?