Indiana Fever Power forward/center Aliyah Boston.
In her debut season with the Indiana Fever, basketball star Aliyah Boston, a Virgin Islands native, has helped the team secure their first victory since June 19, 2022, breaking a 20-game losing streak, a record previously tied for the longest in Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) history. The team triumphed over the Atlanta Dream with a score of 90-87 on Sunday.
The victory marked a turning point for the Fever, who hadn't tasted victory for nearly a year. Coach Christie Sides, who was appointed in November 2022, emphasized the importance of culture in their resurgence. "Culture, playing hard, being the hardest-working team in practice. These guys have worked really hard every day," she affirmed.
Since the retirement of franchise legend Tamika Catchings in 2016, the Fever have struggled to return to their former glory. The team had previously made 12 consecutive playoff appearances, including three trips to the WNBA Finals and a victory in the 2012 league championship.
Boston, the No.1 pick from the 2023 WNBA draft, has been a solid contributor for the Fever. She made her mark in the win against the Dream by scoring 13 points and securing 7 rebounds. However, leading the charge for Indiana on Sunday was forward NaLyssa Smith with an impressive tally of 23 points and 13 rebounds. Smith was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 draft from Baylor.
Prior to the victory over the Dream, the Fever had opened the 2023 season with defeats to the Connecticut Sun and the New York Liberty. This had tied them with the 2011 Tulsa Shock's unenviable record for the longest losing streak in WNBA history.
Despite the recent struggles, coach Sides remains optimistic about the Fever's future. "We're building something here, and that's going to take time. This was just a huge piece for us to get this win," she commented after Sunday's victory, signifying a fresh start for the Fever.
The win marked a new chapter for the Indiana Fever, suggesting that under Boston's promising talent and Sides' leadership, the team might be on track to regaining their former prowess.
