When Stephanie White took over as the new head coach of the Indiana Fever in 2024, she made her intentions clear right from her introductory press conference. She didn’t shy away from the spotlight that came with inheriting two of the WNBA’s brightest stars—Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston. What stood out even then was how White spoke of their limitless potential together, making it known she saw something long-term and special brewing between the back-to-back Rookies of the Year.
White’s no stranger to unlocking versatile players—she led the Connecticut Sun to a 53-27 record from 2022 to 2024, turning Alyssa Thomas into a point-forward who dished out 6.1 assists per game last season while guiding the team to the 2022 WNBA Finals.
Fast forward to now, with the 2025 WNBA season just around the corner, that vision is starting to take on more shape, and for Boston, it means shifting gears in a major way. Aliyah Boston, who is entering her third WNBA season, already has a strong footing in Indiana. She won Rookie of the Year in 2023 and built on that success in 2024, finding more rhythm and flow as the season progressed. But Stephanie White has new plans. And they go beyond what Boston’s been doing so far.
In a recent interview on Good Flow with Ros Gold-Onwude, Coach White peeled back the curtain on her upcoming approach with Boston. One quote in particular grabbed everyone’s attention: “You know, I think Aliyah is an outstanding facilitator as well from that post position. So we’re going to use her a little bit more like a hub, right?” That’s not just coach-speak. That’s a shift in philosophy. What White is essentially saying is she wants to tap into Boston’s playmaking skills — not just her size and strength.
Aliyah Boston about to cook next season pic.twitter.com/1FN7mV7N6v
— Michael (@mikeaalen112735) April 16, 2025
It gets more interesting when White draws a comparison that raised eyebrows: “Like a little bit more like a Jokic… in how she gets the ball — whether that’s, you know, in the trail…”
If you’re wondering, yes — that’s a nod to Denver Nuggets’ star Nikola Jokic. He’s a center, but more than that, he’s a playmaker. A guy who runs the offense, dishes assists, and reads the floor like a point guard. And that’s the kind of role White envisions for Boston — using her as a central piece not just to score, but to create.
That means less pounding in the post, and more flow. White elaborated: “I don’t want her to have to just pound and pound and body and dribble in a one-on-one situation to get shots. We want to make her life easier. How can we get her touches at the rim where she can just go right into her finishes?”. So instead of forcing her into constant physical battles down low, White wants Boston to operate from different angles — off the block, in motion, and as a facilitator who can read defenses and distribute accordingly. This also includes running off-ball actions and getting her moving after passes, opening the door for easy buckets without wearing her down.
There’s another layer to this evolution: versatility. White made it clear that she’s challenging Boston to stretch her game: “ little bit more versatility in her game. I mean challenging her to become a consistent — doesn’t have to be high volume — but a consistent three-point shooter.” Now we’re talking about a player who can do it all: post up, hit jumpers, read the floor, and set up teammates — all while being a defensive presence. And the thing is, Boston already has the tools.
Her size (6’5″), strength, and footwork allow her to draw defenders. But it’s her court vision and feel for the game that make this shift possible. From the high post, she can spot cutters, exploit double-teams, and create passing angles. And when she runs pick-and-rolls with someone like Caitlin Clark or Kelsey Mitchell, she becomes a nightmare to guard.
Caitlin Clark has already praised this side of Boston’s game. In interviews, Clark has highlighted Boston’s “smooth passing,” her understanding of spacing, and the way she “glides through defenses.” The two have been developing a strong pick-and-roll chemistry, and it’s clear they feed off each other’s movement.
It’s not just about Boston finding her own shot anymore — it’s about how her movement and decision-making change the whole floor. When she moves, defenders react. That opens up space for guards to drive or spot up. It’s a ripple effect, and she’s the one causing it.
Why Aliyah Boston Might Be the Key to Unlocking Indiana’s Full Offensive Potential
Now here’s the thing: Boston isn’t just starting from scratch with this new role. Through her first two seasons, she’s shown steady signs of growth — especially as a passer. While she only averaged 2.7 assists per game across her career so far, she bumped that to 3.2 last season. Not eye-popping on paper, but you could feel the intention behind those numbers. The reads were sharper. The vision was clearer. And with better spacing and more weapons around her this year, those assists could take a serious leap.
CHICAGO, IL – JUNE 6: Aliyah Boston #7 of the Indiana Fever shoots a free throw during the game against the Chicago Sky on June 6, 2023 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)
Especially with someone like DeWanna Bonner on the floor. Her arrival adds something Boston hasn’t consistently had — a reliable knock-down shooter who can stretch the floor and make defenses pay for collapsing inside. That changes the geometry of the court. The Fever didn’t stop with Bonner—they drafted Jada Williams, a rookie stretch-four who shot 38% from three in college, to give Boston even more room to operate and dish.
With Bonner spacing the wing and Clark drawing gravity, Jada’s magical moves on the court, Boston’s passes will now have more purpose — and a much higher chance of turning into buckets.
And don’t forget, Boston’s already been wildly efficient herself. Over the past two seasons, she’s played all 80 games — a testament to her durability — while shooting 55% from the field and a respectable 74% from the free-throw line. She’s been the anchor. But now, White wants her to steer the ship, too.
This is where scheme and personnel collide in a good way. Stephanie White’s new system gives Boston more touches in fluid, dynamic actions rather than the grinding post-ups she’s often leaned on. Add in spacing from Bonner, playmaking from Clark, and a coach who actually wants her big to pass like Jokic, and suddenly Boston’s stat sheet could start looking different. Not because she’s trying to do more — but because the offense is finally built for her to be more.
Heading into the 2025 season, all of this could be Indiana’s secret weapon. Clark will still be the spark plug, but Boston might just become the engine. With new players joining the mix and White calling the shots, the Fever could unlock a whole new level of offense by building it around Boston’s evolution — not just as a forward, but as a facilitator.
As Coach White put it, it’s about “being able to use other aspects” of Boston’s game. And by doing that, Indiana isn’t just making her better — they’re changing how the whole league might view what a modern center can do.
This fits right into where the WNBA’s headed in 2025—positionless basketball is king, with bigs like Las Vegas’ A’ja Wilson and New York’s Breanna Stewart running offenses. White’s system puts the Fever in that elite conversation, with Boston leading the charge.
And maybe most importantly — this shift might actually work because Boston’s all in. With the top-to-bottom changes made to the Fever in the past few months, she feels locked, loaded, and fully supported. As she put it herself: “If things aren’t going our way, we have a coach at the helm who knows how to adjust.” That kind of trust isn’t just rare — it’s powerful. And with the 2025 season quickly approaching, all eyes will be on Indiana to see how their fresh new look translates to the court.
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