There are matchups, and then there are measurements. When the Indiana Fever clashed with the Las Vegas Aces on June 22, the focus wasn’t just on the scoreboard—it was on the court-wide test: could Indiana out-execute the reigning champions in the middle quarters, when pace tightens and adjustments define winners?
And while the game had its share of standout moments, one player towered above it all—literally and figuratively.
Aliyah Boston.
The second-year big didn’t just anchor Indiana’s offense in the second and third quarters—she anchored their identity.
Quarter 2: Boston’s Interior Control Turns the Tide
As the second quarter began, the Aces had momentum. Indiana responded with poise. Boston, working through tough early contact, set the tone with her positioning, footwork, and patience. Against one of the toughest frontcourts in the league—led by Asia Wilson—Boston carved out angles and hit soft touches off the glass.
She finished the half with double-digit points, but more importantly, she drew double teams that opened lanes for shooters like Kelsey Mitchell and space for Clark to reset the offense when struggling from deep.
Multiple possessions saw Boston isolate on the block, read the help, and either kick out or finish through contact. Her ability to hold her ground without rushing plays disrupted Las Vegas’s defensive rhythm.
Quarter 3: Composure Meets Execution
By the third quarter, Indiana began to surge.
Clark—who had struggled to find her shot—continued to facilitate, but it was Boston who stabilized every run. When the Aces threatened to cut into Indiana’s lead, Boston responded with high-low seals, soft mid-range fades, and defensive rebounds that silenced second-chance hopes.
She also forced Asia Wilson into tough shots. Wilson, who had been held to just 2 of 13 from the floor in the first half, continued to be disrupted by Boston’s physicality and timing.
One key moment: with two minutes left in Q3, Indiana ran a double-drag screen to free up Clark. The Aces switched. Clark kicked to Boston at the elbow. Instead of forcing a shot, Boston faked a handoff, turned, and drove left—drawing a foul and converting both free throws.
That possession didn’t go viral, but it summed up Boston’s performance: calm, deliberate, effective.
Who Stood Out the Most?
While Chelsea Gray had moments of vintage brilliance for Las Vegas and Kelsey Mitchell delivered critical threes for Indiana, the most consistent, game-shaping force in quarters 2 and 3 was Aliyah Boston.
Her stats may not shout from the box score—though she did finish with 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 assists through three quarters—but the film tells a louder story.
• Defensively: She held Wilson to under 25% shooting through the third.
• Offensively: She scored efficiently, drew multiple defenders, and made smart decisions.
• Leadership: In moments when Clark faltered, Boston kept Indiana centered.
Caitlin Clark’s Role: Facilitator in Frustration
Clark struggled from the field—going through one of the worst shooting stretches of her young WNBA career, including a streak of 0-for-13 from three over her last two games. But in Q2 and Q3, she showed what makes her valuable beyond scoring.
Her 7 assists in those two quarters were a clinic in spacing and vision. Even when guarded tightly by Jackie Young or switched onto by Wilson, Clark maintained poise. She broke the press, initiated second actions, and hit Mitchell, Boston, and Evans in rhythm.
Clark’s signature play came late in the third: crossing over her defender, hesitating, drawing the double, and flipping a bounce pass to Boston in the dunker spot—leading to a layup and an Aces timeout.
It wasn’t her night to shoot. But she still led.
Asia Wilson: Resilient but Contained
Asia Wilson came alive late in the third, hitting a key fadeaway and converting an and-one that sparked a 6-0 run. But she was clearly frustrated. Boston’s physical defense pushed her further from the basket, and she spent most of the quarter gesturing to referees and working for position.
By the end of Q3, Wilson had only four made field goals and no free throws attempted—an unusual stat line for a player of her caliber.
Key Tactical Notes
• Indiana’s Double Drag Action: Used repeatedly to free Clark from blitzes. Effective in spacing Vegas’s defense.
• High-Low Timing: Boston’s chemistry with Mitchell and Howard was sharp. Their passes into the paint were clean, decisive, and unselfish.
• Vegas’s Off-Ball Defense: Struggled to recover once Boston pulled help defenders into the key. Their rotations were late, especially when Clark baited switches.
Verdict: Aliyah Boston Was the Game’s Axis
Clark will always draw the spotlight. Mitchell will always bring firepower. Wilson will always command attention.
But in this game, in these quarters, Aliyah Boston was the axis—the point around which the entire battle turned.
She defended without fouling. She scored without forcing. She steadied the team while others searched for rhythm. And in doing so, she reminded the league that while Indiana may be Caitlin Clark’s story on the surface—it’s Aliyah Boston’s foundation underneath.
