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Indian Fever star forward Aliyah Boston was straight to the point as she explained how she dealt with hateful comments from her own fanbase during her sophomore season.
After taking the league by storm as a rookie, Boston struggled to maintain consistency in her second season, with Caitlin Clark's arrival changing the team dynamics. The Fever experienced a sudden surge of fame, attributed to what many refer to as the "Caitlin Clark effect."
However, the increased attention also attracted negative comments, and at times, Boston was the victim of toxic online comments, which led her to deactivate her social media accounts.
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When asked by WNBA legend Sue Bird about how she dealt with the situation, Boston kept her thoughts brief, trying not to add too much fuel to the fire.
“I think you just kind of embrace that," she said on Friday. “When it comes to social media, obviously it's just people... trolling. But for me, it's like, I am someone who already puts so much pressure on myself. And for you to come in and tell me, like, 'Dang, you're like the worst hooper I've ever seen in my life'. It's you know what? Hear me out. I'm going to leave. I'm going to exit.”
Development in the WNBA takes time, especially for players who started out as well as Aliyah Boston did. In fact, in 2024, the entire Fever went through their worst run before securing wins down the stretch.
“We weren't given that grace period of getting to play with someone that you've never played with," Boston added. “The way we played the year before, a lot different. The way we played with Caitlin, completely different dynamic. So for me, it's like finishing some of those pocket passes that I might not have gotten before. Finishing on some of these different shots. I'm like, guys, we're learning. I also feel like people forgot that this was my second year.”
Statistically, Aliyah Boston’s improvement compared to her rookie season was negligible. She made a slow start, but improved in several tangible ways. The 23-year-old, who is in her third season in the league, is one of the best catch-and-shoot threats, top post-up players, and most reliable pick-and-roll initiators.
A lot of Boston’s game is still a work in progress, but development is clearly happening.
Aliyah Boston shines as Fever pull off one of the biggest WNBA playoff upsets
On Friday, the Indiana Fever emerged victorious in a dramatic do-or-die Game 3, booking a place in the semifinals for the first time since 2015 at No. 3 seed Atlanta Dream's expense.
Aliyah Boston rescued the Fever with a go-ahead layup with 7.4 seconds left after a chaotic back-and-forth game.
The Fever missed six players, including Caitlin Clark. The Dream were expected to win the series comfortably after winning a franchise-record 30 games to earn the No. 3 seed, but they succumbed to the Fever's late pressure, losing 87-85.
Boston scored 14 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, and had six assists. Kelsey Mitchell led the team with 24 points, while Odyssey Sims added 16. They face the No. 2 seed, the Las Vegas Aces, in the semifinals. Game 1 tips off on Sunday.
