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During a preseason match against the Chicago Sky, Aaliyah Boston skillfully maneuvered the basketball.
Aliyah Boston, a standout player for the Indiana Fever, was crowned as May's Rookie of the Month by the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) on Friday. This accolade mirrors Boston's collegiate success, reflecting her continued excellence as she transitions into her professional career.
Despite the Fever's 1-4 season record, Boston's performance has been nothing short of spectacular. The first draft pick from the South Carolina Gamecocks has proven that her college dominance was no aberration. Her debut in the professional league featured an impressive average of 15.8 points, 6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks over her first four games.
Boston's scoring and average playtime (27 minutes) propelled her to the forefront among all rookies of 2023. She currently ranks second in terms of field goals, successfully scoring on 24 out of her 36 attempts, equivalent to a two-thirds average.
According to data aggregator Across the Timeline, Boston, a St. Thomas USVI native, has made WNBA history as the first rookie to score at least 10 points in each of her career's initial four games, and maintain over a 60 percent successful shot rate from the floor. With these statistics, Boston ranks 16th in the league for points scored and 21st for rebounds.
In the Fever's fifth game of the season, a narrow 84-80 loss against the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday, Boston played for 22 minutes and attempted four field goals, sinking three to culminate in a notable 75 percent average.
Sports Illustrated anticipates that this Rookie of the Month honor will be the first of many in Boston's debut year. The publication asserts that it's "only a matter of time" before Boston ascends to be one of the elite players in the WNBA.
The Fever is scheduled to play next on Tuesday at 8:00 p.m., facing off against the Chicago Sky. History shows a challenging matchup, with Chicago having won four out of the teams' last five meetings.
