Aliyah Boston has always been an unselfish player, but during a two-week stretch earlier this season, she proved just how capable she is of being an offensive hub by leading the team in assists during that span. She’s averaging 3.8 assists per game, a career best, and currently leads all WNBA centers in that category. But that’s only one part of her performance when Caitlin Clark is off the court. The other? It’s something fans couldn’t stop buzzing about.
It’s how Boston turns it up a notch in Clark’s absence. Take the last game, for instance. Indiana Fever snapped their two-game losing streak with a much-needed 94-86 win over the Seattle Storm, despite Clark struggling heavily. The rookie sensation shot just 3-of-13 from the field, 0-of-6 from beyond the arc, and committed eight turnovers. She contributed only six points to the team’s total. But while Clark had an off night, Boston rose to the occasion, dropping a career-high 31 points on 13-of-18 shooting, along with eight rebounds, three assists, and two steals in 33 minutes of action.
However, right after the game, things got tougher for Boston, as it was announced that Caitlin Clark would be sidelined for her sixth game of the season due to a left groin injury. “I think it’s very much a day-to-day thing, how she responds to treatment,” head coach Stephanie White told reporters after Clark was added to the injury report ahead of the Fever’s game against the LA Sparks. While specifics weren’t disclosed, it was clear Clark would miss at least one game.
Jun 19, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Indiana Fever forward Aliyah Boston (7) reacts after being called for a foul during the second quarter against the Golden State Valkyries at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
And that’s where things started to slip for Boston. It’s because the 2023 Rookie of the Year has struggled to maintain offensive consistency when the team’s core playmaker is out. And that pattern repeated on Thursday night as the Fever took on the Sparks.
Yes, it was a tough loss—Indiana fell 83–75, as the Sparks ended their four-game losing streak. And losing nearly 19 points per game in Clark’s absence is no small blow. But what truly fired up the fans was Boston’s drop-off. Expected to step up again, she instead finished with just 12 points, 10 rebounds, and five steals.
Fans target Aliyah Boston as she fails to deliver in Caitlin Clark’s absence!
As Boston started dropping scores that didn’t really match the expectation level of spectators, fans began diving into the comment section, attacking the inefficiency of the Indiana Fever center. “All of a sudden Aliyah Boston can’t score smh,” penned one user. Well, yes, this user is right—especially since AB is averaging 15.9 points per game with 8.2 rebounds. So, her delivering just 12 points is clearly below average. But what makes the Fever fans’ pain more intense is that Boston had been delivering above-average performances in the last three games. Just consider: she had 17, 27, and 31 points in those outings, then suddenly dropped to 12 without Clark.
“Aliyah Boston needs Caitlin Clark to return to the court ASAP. Her PPG averages are going to drop precipitously, I swear to God,” added another user. Well, this isn’t the first time she’s faced such a situation. CC had been sidelined twice before—first missing out on the preseason opener due to a quad injury, and then again for three weeks because of a left quadriceps issue.
So when Clark was out, Boston—then posting an average of 16.8 points per game—was anticipated to shine. After all, Coach White had already made it clear: “We want her to be a scorer and facilitator from all five positions on the floor.” And the 2023 number-one pick is a powerhouse of talent, with the capacity to dominate, create offense, and run efficient pick-and-rolls for the Fever. But even then, Boston struggled miserably when her partner left.
“Aliyah Boston when Caitlin Clark isn’t playing,” penned another user, alongside a GIF showing a confused player. And yes, that’s right—it does look like she is. You know the saying: numbers don’t lie. Boston failed to deliver more than 11 points in any game without Clark, except for one against the Connecticut Sun. One of the outings even saw her putting up just 7 points with 4 rebounds versus the Atlanta Dream.
“Aliyah Boston, you can’t have 12 points when Clark don’t play,” wrote another user. And in case you still have doubts, just consider this: With Clark, she’s played 9 games and has posted 18.6 PPG, 13.1 FGA/G, 10.3 RPG, but without her, she’s played five games and has 11.0 PPG, 7.2 FGA/G, 4.4 RPG. And yes, in case you’re wondering, these are 2025 season numbers. “Aliyah Boston is nothing without Caitlin Clark on the floor when games get tight,” another fan declared. Of course, it all reflects in the Fever’s record as well. With Clark out, the team went on a 2-3 run. So yes, Indiana needs Clark back—not just to support AB, but to have a serious impact in the upcoming marquee matchup against the Dallas Wings.
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