“Keep applying the pressure!” Dawn Staley urged after Aliyah Boston completed her second year in the WNBA. This mindset has undoubtedly fueled the Indiana Fever star’s rise.
As the number one pick, 2023 ROTY, and a key player alongside Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell, Boston has become the cornerstone of the Fever. Adding to the motivation, Boston has a story to share about Staley’s impact on her players.
On In Case You Missed It with Khristina Williams, the Indiana Fever forward and South Carolina alum Aliyah Boston recalled an interesting experience with her former coach.
The 6’5″ forward explained the process of selecting captains at South Carolina. “The way you do it is you go up there, say why you want to be a captain, and then they ask you a series of questions… I remember my freshman year. I didn’t try for captain because I was still figuring things out.”
At the time, A’ja Wilson had just left the program, having led the team to its first title in 2017. The now Las Vegas Aces star had also had her statue erected outside Colonial Life Arena. Those were big shoes to fill, and Boston believed the team had strong captains to take on the role.
However, Dawn Staley saw something in the young forward. In Aliyah Boston’s sophomore year, Staley sent a message to the future star. “Don’t be afraid to use your voice,” said the South Carolina coach. “You can be a leader on this team.” The words had such an impact on Boston that she immediately called her parents.
“I remember I called my mom after my dad… I’m like, she’s talking about being a captain and not being afraid to use my voice. And I was like, oh my gosh. I don’t know what to do. I’m just trying to figure it all out,” she recalls.
Boston went on to lead the Gamecocks to another successful season. After becoming the 11th fastest Gamecock to score 500 points in her career during her sophomore year, the Fever icon guided the team to a championship while also being named National Player of the Year. A year later, Staley remarked, “I don’t think everybody could be in Aliyah’s position and thrive like she’s thriving.”
Now making waves in the WNBA, the coach’s motivating energy has not wavered.
Dawn Staley Continues to Cheer on Her Star
The 2023 ROTY faced a challenging start to her sophomore year in the WNBA, but it didn’t take long for her to rise alongside Clark and Mitchell.
In a game against the Minnesota Lynx in July, Boston posted a double-double by halftime—11 points and 10 rebounds. She finished the game with a career-high 16 rebounds and 17 points. Coach Dawn Staley seemed to be waiting for the moment.
“Easy like Sunday morning but it’s afternoon for (Aliyah Boston) double-double,” Staley tweeted. “I see you WNBA All-Star!” After earning her second consecutive All-Star appearance, Boston ended the season averaging 14.0 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 3.2 assists. She also set a franchise record for rebounds with 355 and reached 1,000 career points in August. As the 23-year-old posted a season wrap on X, Staley made sure Boston knew she wasn’t done yet.
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