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Prodigious USVI native Aliyah Boston has been unanimously named the WNBA Rookie of the Year, as announced on Monday. This honor adds to Boston's already impressive resume, with the Fever star becoming only the fifth player in league history to clinch the title with unanimous support from a 60-person national media panel.
Boston follows in the footsteps of previous unanimous winners such as A’ja Wilson in 2018, Elena Delle Donne in 2013, Tina Charles in 2010, and Candace Parker in 2008.
Chosen as the Indiana Fever's No. 1 draft pick in April, Boston did not disappoint fans, starting in every game for the team. The 6-foot-5 center/forward showcased her skills by averaging 14.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks. Notably, Boston, with a shooting accuracy of 57.8%, became the first rookie to top the league in this statistic.
Reflecting on her remarkable season, Boston expressed her satisfaction and growth, "I feel like over games, I was able to adjust, especially playing teams the second or third time around. As a rookie entering this league, it's challenging, but I'm proud of how I've risen to the occasion."
Beyond her personal accolades, Boston's influence has been transformative for the Indiana Fever. Under the guidance of first-year coach Christie Sides, the team garnered 13 wins this season, more than doubling their previous year's tally. This represents a notable achievement, as it's only the second time in the last seven years that the Fever has reached double-digit victories.
Apart from Boston, the WNBA's all-rookie team boasts other emerging talents, such as Jordan Horston of the Seattle Storm, Dorka Juhász and Diamond Miller from the Minnesota Lynx, and Li Meng of the Washington Mystics.
Boston's recognition also brings back memories of the Fever's previous Rookie of the Year, Tamika Catchings, who won the honor in 2002. Catchings, despite an initial setback due to a knee injury in 2001, went on to have an unparalleled career with the Fever. Since her retirement in 2016, the team hasn't made the playoffs.
Nevertheless, Boston remains optimistic about the future. "Thinking about our future as a team, I just think we're going to grow this franchise," she said. "We're going to continue to build it up."
