When Aliyah Boston stepped onto the court for her WNBA debut on May 19, 2023, few expected her to make history in the very first game—but she did just that. In a season-opening matchup between the Indiana Fever and the Connecticut Sun, Boston delivered an outstanding 5-point, 9-rebound, 1-block performance on 60% shooting, immediately establishing herself as a force to be reckoned with.
But this was just the beginning.
Over the course of her rookie season, Boston averaged 14.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game, while shooting a league-leading 57.8% from the field—the highest efficiency by a rookie since Candace Parker’s debut season in 2008. She was the only rookie selected as a 2023 All-Star starter, a rare honor that placed her alongside veterans like A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart.
Boston’s maturity, both mentally and physically, set her apart. She quickly became the centerpiece of the Fever’s rebuilding efforts and won the WNBA Rookie of the Year award unanimously, making her the first Indiana player to receive the honor since Tamika Catchings in 2002.
Analysts and fans alike are already drawing comparisons to WNBA legends. What took Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird years to develop—a commanding presence and elite consistency—Boston seemed to grasp in her very first season. And at just 22 years old, the scariest part is: she’s only getting started.
