Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Aliyah Boston

Discover the career path of Aliyah Boston, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Aliyah Boston is an American professional basketball player, currently a power forward and center for the Indiana Fever in the WNBA. Her outstanding performance led to her being unanimously named the 2023 WNBA Rookie of the Year, also earning her the AP Rookie of the Year title. Prior to her professional career, she played college basketball at the University of South Carolina.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

2017: FIBA Under-16 Women's Americas Championship Gold

In 2017, Aliyah Boston represented the United States at the FIBA Under-16 Women's Americas Championship, winning gold and being named MVP of the tournament.

2018: Summer Youth Olympics Gold Medal

In 2018, Aliyah Boston represented the United States and won a gold medal at the Summer Youth Olympics.

2018: FIBA Under-17 Women's Basketball World Cup Gold

In 2018, Aliyah Boston represented the United States at the FIBA Under-17 Women's Basketball World Cup, winning gold.

November 5, 2019: First Triple-Double at South Carolina

On November 5, 2019, in her first game at the University of South Carolina, Aliyah Boston posted the first triple-double by a freshman in program history and the first by any NCAA Division I player in her career debut against Alabama State, including a school-record tying 10 blocks.

2019: NEPSAC Class A Championship and All-American Selection

In 2019, Aliyah Boston led her team to a 24-1 record and a second straight New England Prep School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Class A championship. She was a consensus All-American, averaging 17.3 points, 10.6 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game. Boston was also selected to play in the McDonald's All-American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic in 2019 and won Gatorade Massachusetts Player of the Year.

2019: FIBA Under-19 Women's Basketball World Cup Gold

In 2019, Aliyah Boston represented the United States and won a gold medal at the FIBA Under-19 Women's Basketball World Cup.

2019: Commitment to South Carolina Gamecocks

In 2019, Aliyah Boston, a five-star recruit ranked third in the ESPN HoopGurlz 2019 class, committed to Dawn Staley and the South Carolina Gamecocks over UConn, Ohio State, and Notre Dame, giving the Gamecocks the consensus number one recruiting class for 2019.

2019: Reef Division MVP at Paradise Jam

In 2019, at the Paradise Jam, Aliyah Boston won Reef Division MVP after she had 20 points and 13 rebounds in a win against No. 2 Baylor, clinching the tournament championship.

January 20, 2020: Eighth Double-Double of the Season

On January 20, 2020, Aliyah Boston notched her eighth double-double of the season finishing with 12 rebounds and 21 points in a win over No. 9 Mississippi State.

2021: FIBA Women's AmeriCup Gold

In 2021, Aliyah Boston represented the United States and won gold at the FIBA Women's AmeriCup.

2022: National Championship and Player of the Year Honors

In 2022, Aliyah Boston led South Carolina to their second national championship in school history and was named the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player (MOP). That year, she also won Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors and won the Lisa Leslie Award as the best center in NCAA women's basketball.

April 1, 2023: Declared for WNBA Draft

On April 1, 2023, Aliyah Boston declared for the 2023 WNBA draft, choosing to forgo her extra year of eligibility granted to college athletes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ending her four-year collegiate career with a record of 129 wins and 9 losses.

April 10, 2023: Drafted First Overall by Indiana Fever

On April 10, 2023, Aliyah Boston was the first overall pick in the WNBA draft, selected by the Indiana Fever.

December 10, 2023: Represented Fever at WNBA Draft Lottery

On December 10, 2023, Aliyah Boston represented the Fever at the 2024 WNBA draft lottery, helping Indiana secure the first overall pick for the second straight year.

2023: WNBA Rookie of the Year and League Leader in Field Goal Percentage

At the end of the 2023 season, Aliyah Boston was unanimously named WNBA Rookie of the Year and was also named annual Rookie of the Year by the Associated Press as well as earning AP All-Rookie Team recognition. Furthermore, she became the first player in WNBA history to ever lead the league in field goal percentage (57.8%) as a rookie.

2023: University Graduation and Career Plans

In 2023, Aliyah Boston graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in communications and planned to work in broadcast sports journalism after her playing career.

2023: WNBA Rookie of the Year

In 2023, Aliyah Boston was named the WNBA Rookie of the Year in a unanimous vote and was also named AP Rookie of the Year after playing college basketball at the University of South Carolina.

February 2024: Joined WNBA Changemakers Collective as Mentor

In February 2024, Aliyah Boston joined the WNBA Changemakers Collective and their collaboration with VOICEINSPORT (VIS) as a mentor, aimed at keeping girls in sport and developing diverse leaders on the court and beyond the game.

June 18, 2024: Eastern Conference Player of the Week

On June 18, 2024, Aliyah Boston was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week.

July 2, 2024: Named to Team WNBA All-Star

On July 2, 2024, Aliyah Boston was named to the Team WNBA All-Star team and received the second most fan votes of any player (618,680 votes).

October 2024: TikTok Ad Campaign Appearance

In October 2024, Aliyah Boston appeared in a TikTok ad campaign for TOGETHXR and Aflac alongside Fever teammate, Lexie Hull.

October 31, 2024: Announcement of Unrivaled League Participation

On October 31, 2024, it was announced that Aliyah Boston would appear and play in the inaugural 2025 season of Unrivaled, the women's 3-on-3 basketball league founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart.

2024: Secured First Overall Pick for Indiana Fever

In 2024, Aliyah Boston represented the Fever at the WNBA draft lottery, helping Indiana secure the first overall pick, where they selected Caitlin Clark.