Gamecocks in the WNBA: Wilson and Boston Set for Semifinal Showdown
Former South Carolina stars A’ja Wilson and Aliyah Boston are officially on a collision course in the WNBA semifinals.
Thursday night was one to remember for both legends. Boston delivered the game-winning layup with 7.4 seconds left to lift Indiana past Atlanta, while Wilson matched her playoff career-high with 38 points to carry Las Vegas over Seattle. Wilson’s effort marked the second-most points ever scored in a WNBA elimination game.
Now, two of the greatest Gamecocks in history will go head-to-head with a spot in the Finals on the line.
While Phoenix and New York still have one more first-round game to determine who faces Minnesota, no other South Carolina alumni remain active on that side of the bracket.
The semifinal matchups are set:
- (1) Minnesota vs (4) Phoenix / (5) New York
- (2) Las Vegas vs (6) Indiana
Atlanta Dream
Allisha Gray
- Playoffs: 3 games (3 starts), 33.1 mpg, 16.0 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.0 spg
Gray shined in Atlanta despite her team’s struggles in crunch time. She closed out the series with a 19-point, 12-rebound performance, but the Dream couldn’t execute late, failing three inbound plays in the final eight seconds of Game 3.
Te-Hina Paopao
- Playoffs: 3 games, 9.8 mpg, 6.3 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 37.5 3P%
Paopao showed flashes but continued to see limited minutes. Despite scoring 11 points in Game 2, she was pulled after an early turnover in Game 3 and didn’t return until the final seconds.
Atlanta’s season is over.
Golden State Valkyries
Laeticia Amihere
- Playoffs: 1 game, 4.3 mpg, 0.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg
Amihere closed the year out of Golden State’s rotation but remains a valued contributor with upside for the future.
Golden State’s season is over.
Indiana Fever
Aliyah Boston
- Playoffs: 3 games (3 starts), 30.0 mpg, 12.3 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 4.7 apg
Boston’s scoring dipped early in the series, but she came up clutch in Game 3. Her physical play even drew a rare technical foul, showing her competitive edge. Boston sealed the win with a go-ahead layup in the final seconds.
“Oh, she’s great,” Fever coach Christie Sides said of Boston’s impact. “That’s who she is — a competitor.”
Bree Hall
- Playoffs: 2 games, 1.5 mpg, 2.0 ppg
Hall saw late minutes in the first two games, managing to score four points in limited time.
Upcoming vs Las Vegas:
- Game 1: Sept. 21, 3:00 PM ET (ABC)
- Game 2: Sept. 23, 9:30 PM ET (ESPN)
- Game 3: Sept. 26 (ESPN2)
- Game 4: Sept. 28, 3:00 PM ET (ABC, if necessary)
- Game 5: Sept. 30 (if necessary)
Las Vegas Aces
A’ja Wilson
- Playoffs: 3 games (3 starts), 35.3 mpg, 29.3 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 3.3 apg, 2.0 bpg, 2.3 spg
Wilson was named co-Defensive Player of the Year on Thursday but skipped the ceremony to focus on preparation, letting her parents accept the award. She dominated Seattle, capped by her 38-point masterpiece in Game 3.
“There probably wouldn’t have been a Game 3 if Las Vegas hadn’t forgotten about Wilson during the fourth quarter of Game 2,” one analyst noted.
Upcoming vs Indiana:
- Game 1: Sept. 21, 3:00 PM ET (ABC)
- Game 2: Sept. 23, 9:30 PM ET (ESPN)
- Game 3: Sept. 26 (ESPN2)
- Game 4: Sept. 28, 3:00 PM ET (ABC, if necessary)
- Game 5: Sept. 30 (if necessary)
Seattle Storm
Zia Cooke
- Playoffs: 1 game, 7.0 mpg, 3.0 ppg, 1.0 apg, 1.0 rpg
Cooke only appeared in Game 1 before Seattle shortened its rotation.
Tiffany Mitchell
- Playoffs: 1 game, 11.0 mpg, 6.0 ppg
Like Cooke, Mitchell saw action in Game 1 but was left out of the rotation in the following matchups.
Seattle’s season is over.
With Wilson and Boston squaring off in the semifinals, South Carolina fans are guaranteed a Gamecock presence in the WNBA Finals.
