Aliyah Boston

Aliyah Boston's Biography

Aliyah Boston was born on December 11, 2001, in Saint Thomas, United States Virgin Islands. As a young girl, Boston found her passion for basketball watching her older sister, Alexis, play. The sibling duo left their home in the Virgin Islands at age 12 to move to New England, where they lived with their aunt, Jenaire Hodge, and her cousin, Kira Punter. While their parents, Cleone and Al, stayed behind in Saint Thomas, Boston found solace and satisfaction playing basketball.

Her dedication and talent did not go unnoticed. Boston attended Worcester Academy in Worcester, Massachusetts, where she excelled in basketball, winning the Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year award three years in a row in 2017, 2018, and 2019. She turned heads nationwide, earning a reputation as a dominant force on the court with her exceptional playing style that significantly contributed to the team’s 24–1 record.

Boston’s notable high school performance led to her selection for the McDonald’s All-American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic in 2019. Her entrance into the University of South Carolina marked the beginning of an illustrious collegiate basketball career. Boston proved her worth from the start, posting the first triple-double by a freshman in program history during her first game against Alabama State.

Her highs and lows during her time at South Carolina saw her named the Lisa Leslie Award winner for the best center in women’s basketball in NCAA, not just once, but for four consecutive years, a testament to her consistency and top-tier performance. She led South Carolina to their second national championship in 2022 and was named the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player (MOP). With a remarkable collegiate history of 129 wins and only 9 losses, Boston decided to take the big leap, declaring for the 2023 WNBA draft, dropping out of her additional year of college eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Indiana Fever recognized her talent and immense potential, selecting her as the first overall pick in the 2023 WNBA draft. This marked a new chapter in Boston’s life, her hunger, and determination to make an impact, revealing itself as she was voted the 2023 WNBA Rookie of the Year, a unanimous decision accompanied by the AP Rookie of the Year title.

Coming off a successful rookie season with the Fever, Boston was also crucial on the international stage. Representing the United States at various competitions, including the 2017 FIBA Under-16 Women’s Americas Championship, 2018 Summer Youth Olympics, 2018 FIBA Under-17 Women’s Basketball World Cup, and 2019 FIBA Under-19 Women’s Basketball World Cup, Boston skillfully played her way to the top, earning gold at each event.

Beyond her dedication to the sport, Boston holds a strong commitment to education, graduating from the University of South Carolina in 2023 with a degree in communications. Displaying her off-court talents, she joined NBC Sports after her rookie season as a studio analyst for their Big Ten and Notre Dame women’s basketball coverage. Looking ahead, Boston hopes to explore broadcast sports journalism further after her playing career, proving that she is not only a force to reckon with on the court but is also making strategic moves off the court. A role model to many young girls, Boston continues to push boundaries and exceed expectations in her basketball career.