South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley had nothing but praise for former Gamecock star and current Indiana Fever center Aliyah Boston during her appearance on Wednesday’s episode of the Post Moves podcast with Candace Parker and the Fever standout.
When Parker asked about Boston’s early days in Columbia, Staley recalled how the 6-foot-5 native of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands initially kept to herself out of respect for the veterans on the roster. Boston, she explained, only began opening up after Staley made a point to connect with her one-on-one.
“I think once we started having those conversations, she started just blossoming—like I mean she is super smart,” Staley said (Timestamp: 17:42). “Like she probably came in as the smartest player like ever in the history of our program.”
According to Staley, Boston quickly established herself as a dominant presence who “plays with authority,” able to impose her will and dictate the outcome of possessions.
Boston’s impact at South Carolina was undeniable. In 138 games, she averaged 14.1 points, 10.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.0 steals, and 2.4 blocks, anchoring the Gamecocks to their second national championship in 2022. Her dominance earned her the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft, where she became an immediate cornerstone for the Indiana Fever.
Staley on Boston’s surprising dancing journey
While Boston’s dominance on the court was expected, Staley also highlighted another side of her former star—her growth as a dancer. Early on, Staley joked, Boston’s rhythm lagged far behind her basketball skills.
“Her basketball was much better much quicker advancing than her dancing,” Staley said (Timestamp: 20:15). “But I never thought her dancing would get off to a place where she would make it public because before it could not be.”
Staley credited Boston’s perseverance—and plenty of TikTok practice—for transforming her dance moves into something she now proudly shares online. She also applauded both her South Carolina and Indiana teammates for encouraging Boston and helping her build confidence.
Boston’s current success with the Fever
Now in her third WNBA season, Boston continues to be a driving force for the Fever. Indiana currently sits third in the Eastern Conference, just 2.5 games behind the New York Liberty and four games back from the top-seeded Atlanta Dream.
Most recently, Boston powered Indiana with a 22-point, 11-rebound, four-assist, six-steal performance in a thrilling 76-75 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks, helping the Fever climb to sixth in the league standings with five regular-season games remaining.
