Aliyah Boston has been the most dynamic defensive force that the Unrivaled league has seen, winning the Defensive Player of the Year award during her tenure. But after a most heartbreaking way to end a regular season, the immediate championship aspirations for the Indiana Fever star are over.
On Feb. 27, Boston went down just five minutes into a 72-68 victory over Rose BC at Sephora Arena, denying itself a spot in the postseason at the Barclays Center. It was her only single-digit minute performance of the 14-game season. Following the setback, USA Basketball announced on Thursday that she would miss the upcoming international competition, confirming the severity of the right lower-leg injury.
Mist BC Claims Six-Figure Prize as Aliyah Boston Sits
Boston’s absence resulted in a direct financial loss as Phantom BC advanced to the March 4 title game in Miami without their star center. Mist BC claimed the championship in an 80-74 win, securing the $600,000 prize pool. Under the league's payout structure, each of the six active players on the winning squad received a $100,000 payday - a check that Boston was forced to watch slip away from the sidelines.
Also on Thursday, Boston received official confirmation that her run with the National Team is on hold. USA Basketball officially scratched Boston from the Senior National Team roster for the FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Boston was scheduled to serve as the defensive anchor for the Red, White, and Blue at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot, starting March 11.
Monique Billings and Rae Burrell have been tapped to replace Boston on the active 12-player depth chart. Sonia Citron was also ruled out of the tournament and will be replaced by the same duo.
The timing could not be worse, as the injury interrupted an elite season for Boston. She was named the Unrivaled Defensive Player of the Year on March 1. Before the setback, she led the league with a record 29 blocks, averaging 2.1 per game to go along with 18.9 points and 9.7 rebounds.
