A’ja Wilson’s close friend, Michael McManus — widely recognized on social media as Deloris — has sparked conversation after defending Aliyah Boston amid criticism of her physical play in the WNBA semifinals. The matchup features two South Carolina legends, Wilson and Boston, as the Las Vegas Aces and Indiana Fever battle for a spot in the Finals.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Deloris pushed back against fans who have been unhappy with Boston’s aggressive style. The Fever center has been accused of throwing elbows and playing overly physical basketball.
“Yalls Aliyah Boston takes are colorist. Yalls Aliyah Boston takes are colorist. Yalls Aliyah Boston takes are colorist. Yall are also extremely anti-Black,” Deloris tweeted.
Despite the outside noise, Boston’s defense has clearly impacted Wilson’s game. The four-time MVP shot just 6-of-22 in Game 1 and 6-of-20 in Game 3, with Boston serving as her primary defender and successfully disrupting her rhythm.
Not everyone agreed with Deloris’ stance. One fan countered that the issue isn’t racial but about Boston’s style of play, calling her the “dirtiest player in the league this year.”
“Everything isn’t about race. I was a huge fan of Aliyah’s until last year. Her dirty style of play and her inability to speak up for other Black players when all the bullying occurred after she experienced it firsthand was disappointing,” the fan posted.
Other critics echoed the sentiment, insisting there’s nothing wrong with calling out Boston’s physicality. They pointed out that Fever fans had similarly complained about the Phoenix Mercury’s rough play during the regular season.
Wilson vs. Boston: Game 4 showdown ahead
The series continues Sunday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where the Aces can clinch a Finals berth in Game 4. Wilson will try to break out of her shooting slump against Boston’s defense, while Boston must elevate her offensive production to give the Fever a chance to force a decisive Game 5 in Las Vegas.
Another key factor will be limiting NaLyssa Smith, whose strong performances have fueled the Aces’ back-to-back wins.
