The Indiana Fever found themselves trailing by 27 points in the third quarter against the Connecticut Sun on June 10. Coach Christie Sides decided to bench four of the team’s starters, leaving only Aliyah Boston, the 2023 first-overall pick and Rookie of the Year, on the court. This decision marked a turning point in the season for Boston and the Fever.

Boston’s second year in the WNBA started off slower than expected. After an impressive rookie season where she averaged 14.5 points per game with a field goal percentage of 57.8%, her stats dropped to 10.3 points per game on 41.7% shooting in the first 12 games of 2024. During the blowout loss to the Sun, the Fever focused on getting Boston the ball in the low post, a strategy they hadn’t prioritized earlier. This approach resulted in Boston scoring 10 points and assisting twice in the second half, reducing the Sun’s lead significantly.

Coach Sides recognized the need to build Boston’s confidence. “I just needed her to get some confidence,” Sides said. Playing through Boston more effectively in the low post paid off. Boston scored a career-high 27 points against the Atlanta Dream in the next game and averaged 18.3 points on 62.7% shooting over the next six games. Her improved performance earned her the Eastern Conference Player of the Week for June 10-16, boosting the Fever’s offensive rating significantly.

Boston’s success is not only due to her scoring but also her passing ability. Averaging 2.7 assists per game, Boston creates opportunities for her teammates. This has allowed the Fever to generate better shots and maintain a higher offensive efficiency. Her developing partnership with Caitlin Clark has been crucial. Initially, their on-court chemistry was lacking, but as they adapted to each other’s playing styles, the Fever’s pick-and-roll plays improved significantly.

The Fever’s improved spacing and screen-setting have also contributed to their offensive resurgence. With better screens from Boston and power forward NaLyssa Smith, the team has opened up more scoring opportunities. This, combined with Boston’s ability to read defenses and find open teammates, has made Indiana a more formidable offensive team. As the Fever face tougher opponents, maintaining this offensive strategy centered around Boston will be key to their continued success.