Aliyah Boston Makes WNBA History Amid Indiana Fever’s Struggles Without Caitlin Clark
Despite another disappointing loss for the Indiana Fever, center Aliyah Boston provided a significant bright spot by achieving a remarkable milestone that places her among the elite playmakers in Women’s National Basketball Association history during Tuesday’s 77-58 defeat against the Atlanta Dream.
Boston became only the second-fastest center in WNBA history to reach 250 career assists, accomplishing this impressive feat in just 89 games according to FeverStats, which demonstrates her exceptional court vision and passing ability for a player at her position in professional women’s basketball.
To put this achievement into proper perspective, Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas needed 95 games to reach the same 250-assist milestone, despite averaging eight assists per game this season, which makes Boston’s accomplishment even more remarkable given the traditional role expectations for centers in basketball.
During the loss to Atlanta, Boston contributed seven points, four rebounds, one block, and five crucial assists that helped keep the Fever competitive despite missing their star player Caitlin Clark, who continues to recover from a quadriceps injury that has sidelined her for multiple games.
The versatile center also climbed to fifth place on the Fever’s all-time blocked shots list with her 113th career block, surpassing Jessica Davenport’s total of 112 blocks and positioning herself just four blocks away from catching Teaira McCowan’s franchise record of 117 career blocks.
Indiana’s struggles without Clark have become increasingly evident as the team now holds a disappointing 2-3 record in games where their rookie sensation has been absent, highlighting the significant impact Clark has had on the franchise since joining from the University of Iowa.
Head coach Stephanie White provided a brief but encouraging update on Clark’s recovery progress before Tuesday’s game, noting that the injured guard participated in “a small practice session” on Monday within a “controlled environment” as part of her rehabilitation process.
White also expressed optimism about Clark’s return timeline by promising that the star player would participate in more extensive practice sessions throughout the week, though she emphasized the importance of not rushing Clark back too quickly to avoid any potential setbacks.
The Fever were also missing Sophie Cunningham on Tuesday night, meaning the team was without two key players who have been absent for nine of the team’s games this season, further complicating their efforts to build chemistry and consistency on the court.
Boston’s historic achievement serves as a testament to her development as a complete player who can contribute in multiple facets of the game, proving that she possesses the basketball intelligence and skill set necessary to excel at the highest level of women’s professional basketball.
While the Fever continue to struggle in Clark’s absence, Boston’s record-breaking performance provides hope that the team has multiple players capable of making significant contributions when their full roster is healthy and available for competition.
The next challenge for Indiana comes Saturday when they host the New York Liberty at home, a game where fans and teammates alike hope both Clark and Cunningham will be cleared to return to action for this important matchup.