Aliyah Boston opens up about painful "Welcome to the WNBA" moment.
WNBA Legend's Question Brings Up Painful Moment for Aliyah Boston originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Aliyah Boston is in the midst of a career year with the Indiana Fever, having already secured her third straight All-Star nod and recently becoming the third-youngest player in league history to reach 1,500 points.
On Monday's episode of "Post Moves" with WNBA legend Candace Parker, Boston was asked what her "welcome to the WNBA moment" was.
Boston pointed back to her 2023 rookie year against New York.
"Betnijah Laney-Hamilton hit me straight with the forearm right here in the center of my chest and I just remember falling," Boston said. "But really it wasn’t even meant for me, it was meant for my sister girl Lyss (NaLyssa Smith) who had hit her a little bit on a screen too hard and Betnijah wanted a foul call and the ref was like, 'I just didn't see a foul.'"
"She was like, okay, well you'll see one the next time and yes, indeed they did, but I was on the receiving end of that. " Boston continued. "I still remember because it really was a hard hit. But you know we've talked about it, so it's okay."
How Aliyah Boston Has Evolved Since the 2023 "Welcome" Hit
As a rookie, Boston established elite finishing, becoming the first rookie to lead the WNBA in FG% at 57.8%. In 2025, she remains highly efficient at 53.8% on higher usage (21.4% compared to 19.1% as a rookie), with a steadying 79.5% at the line (up from 74.5% in 2023).
Her assists have climbed to 3.8 per game as well, with an assist rate of 20.6% and a 2.05 assist/turnover ratio. In 2023, Boston was averaging 2.2 assists per game with an assist rate of 12.1% and a 1.19 assist/turnover ratio.
On the defensive end, she's averaging 1.0 blocks and 1.0 steals per game this season, plus strong defensive rebounding rates (19.9 DRB%, up from 17.5% as a rookie).
For a player who led the league in FG% as a rookie and was a unanimous Rookie of the Year, the next layer has been about playmaking, closing and developing into a reliable anchor for the franchise.
Boston’s recollection of being knocked down says something about the league, but her comments say more about her.
With Boston leading the way, the Fever are 18-14 at the time of writing, already five wins more than her rookie season, reflecting a star who absorbed the hit and used it to fuel her growth.
Related: WNBA Team in Line for Punishment After Indiana Fever Game
Related: Lakers President Jeanie Buss Has Unexpected Offer for Indiana Fever’s Sophie Cunningham
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Basketball
