Indiana Fever forward Aliyah Boston benefits from prioritizing her mental health — Andscape

PHOENIX – Indiana Fever forward Aliyah Boston entered the WNBA All-Star break with a smile on her face and high hopes for her team this season.

Boston is averaging 18 points and 9.5 rebounds in July alone while making 65 percent of her field goals. As she prepares for her second WNBA All-Star appearance in two seasons in the league, Boston is excited to share the weekend with Fever teammates Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell on the court, while getting the chance to play with some of the top talent in the WNBA she normally competes against every night.

She attributes part of her success to her chemistry with teammates Clark and Mitchell, but gives most of the credit to her conscious efforts off the court, focusing on her mental health.

“I feel like I started protecting my peace,” Boston told Andscape at the WNBA All-Star media pods on July 19. “I just made sure I was doing things that I needed to do that were beneficial to me so that when I step on the court, I don’t really have to worry about anybody, anything — just myself.”

May was a tough month for the Indiana Fever. They finished with a 1-8 record, and Boston finished the month averaging 11 points and 6.8 rebounds per game on 45.2% shooting. The start to Year 2 was not what many expected from the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year.

“I feel like it took a lot of mental strength because coming into this season, I honestly wasn’t in a good position. I felt like I was really starting over,” Boston said. “I’m just trying to get my bearings in everything, and so I feel like there was just so much chatter behind the noise, which was a big reason I got off social media. (I had to) make sure I was doing what I needed to do. Since then, I’ve just been able to focus on myself (and) keep working hard.

“Being an All-Star was definitely one of (the goals) because I feel like being an All-Star as a rookie is really impressive, but it’s always hard to come back and do it again.”

In May, Boston deleted all social media and resolved to stay in touch with her family, spend time reading her Bible, and do whatever she felt necessary to protect her mental health.

“I also ignore people, as crazy as that sounds,” Boston said. “I do it because sometimes I feel like it really has to be about me to protect my peace and that’s hard when you’re including everyone in your life. Everyone feels like they need a little piece of you and sometimes it’s just like, ‘No, I’m keeping it.'”

The social media attention, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), has been deafening for Boston. South Carolina women’s basketball head coach Dawn Staley understands how social media and comments can affect a young player.

“It kind of plays with your psyche and you have to adapt,” Staley said. “What I’m really proud of is her ability to adapt and I think she’s gotten better because of it. I don’t think she would have had the type of season she’s had if she hadn’t had to adapt to a different way of thinking (and) a different way of playing.”

The transition to the WNBA is not an easy one. Boston knows that there is a lot of talent in the league and that it takes time to find your feet.

“I think the biggest misconception people have is that this talent just fell out of the sky,” Boston said. “Because sometimes you hear people say, ‘Oh my gosh, I didn’t know you were good.’ It’s like, ‘Did you see (me)?’ So it’s kind of like they’re talking to these new eyes without thinking and I feel like if you really pay attention to this league, you know how much talent there is here (and) how tough it is to play in this league.”

Her peace of mind off the court has translated to the court for Boston. She keeps up with Clark’s pace, capitalizes on transition baskets and connects with Clark on pick and rolls. Since starting 1-8, the Fever are 10-7 (11-15 overall).

“I just kept making sure I was consistent for my team, making sure I was finishing my shots, making sure I was finishing around the rim, making sure I was running the floor, making sure I was doing all the little things because at the end of the day, we’ve got a great team,” Boston said. “We’ve got a great roster and I’m going to make sure I do everything I can. It’s going to be important for our team.”

Since their rocky start, Boston and Clark have shown their chemistry on the court. Clark was excited to play with Boston, and the two No. 1 overall picks (Clark in 2024, Boston in 2023) are a big reason why the Fever are currently seventh in the WNBA standings.

“She’s getting better and better every game and continues to improve,” Clark said of Boston’s performance this season.

Despite frustration and finding consistency on the court, Boston made a conscious effort to build a strong relationship with Clark. While Clark was excited about the opportunity to play alongside Boston, the two built a bond off the court that helped Clark flourish during her rookie season.

“She’s not only a great basketball player, she’s a great person. She’s a great leader in our locker room. She’s always been supportive,” Clark said. “She’s just someone I can lean on. But I think our chemistry and our connection is just going to continue to grow.”

Boston knows firsthand the pressure of being the No. 1 overall pick and the expectations to perform well in the league right away. After Clark’s WNBA record-breaking 19 assists against the Dallas Wings on July 17, Boston believes her teammate is living up to the high expectations.

“The best advice I gave Caitlin was to just be herself,” Boston said. “I remember telling (Caitlin) early in the season that with the attention you get here, sometimes you expect certain things and they’re trying to prove to you that this is a big league. You’re here now. (I tell her to) just be herself and be patient.

“I think it’s hard to give ourselves grace, especially when we’re competitors and we want everything to be perfect. I think she did a great job. She handled herself really well all season.”

During the Fever’s first game against the reigning champion Las Vegas Aces on July 2, Aces forward A’ja Wilson noticed Boston playing with a patience it only mastered after the WNBA bubble in 2020.

“Aliyah is someone who really felt like she had to do it all at once or she felt like she had to do everything just because, again, she’s the No. 1 draft pick and there’s a lot of expectations,” Wilson said of Boston, who also played for Staley at South Carolina. “So I feel like she’s had to do a lot of things at once, compared to this year, I feel like she’s playing with a lot more patience, seeing things, dissecting the game and taking it apart in a way that’s beneficial to her.”

Boston is headed into the All-Star Game with some momentum. She finished the Fever’s final game before the break with a season-high 28 points, along with eight rebounds, and has reached double figures in 14 of her last 15 games.

Although the season was tough for the Fever at first, they showed some growth midway through.

“You just have to be in that moment and take a step back,” Boston said. “I feel like during the season it’s really hard to really understand the growth that we’ve had, especially when you look at it from a win-loss standpoint. But now that we’re able to take this break, to be able to see that ‘Hey, we had a great first half,’ we just have to regroup and make sure we finish the rest of the season.”

Boston will rest for the next few weeks due to the Olympic break and hope to secure Indiana a playoff spot for the first time since 2016 when the season resumes on August 15.

“Playoffs are definitely one of (the goals). It’s been a while since we’ve been back and I feel like we were on the edge of it last year. That’s something that has to happen. I think we have a great group and we can do it,” Boston said.

“We have to be a bit better at that in the second half of the season, because everyone is fighting for a spot in the play-offs.”