South Carolina star Aliyah Boston wins second-straight National Defensive Player of the Year award

One of the best players in college basketball — men’s or women’s — is South Carolina women’s forward Aliyah Boston. And the senior earned some more honors to add to her expansive trophy case on Wednesday, being named the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year for a second-straight season.

Boston averages two blocks and nearly half a steal per game, but that doesn’t capture the depth and breadth of her defensive impact. Behind Boston, the Gamecocks have returned to the Final Four and held opponents to 51.1 points per game, the third-best mark in the entire country.

Along with the back-to-back defensive player of the year honors, Boston is a four-time SEC defensive player of the year, made the All-SEC defensive team all four years,

South Carolina and Boston will take on Iowa and the Hawkeyes own star, Caitlin Clark, on Friday in the second women’s Final Four game, tipping off around 9 p.m.

South Carolina has yet to lose a game this season on its quest for a second straight national championship. Monday’s victory over UCLA in the Elite Eight pushed their season total to 36, surpassing the program record that was set just a year ago.

“I’m super excited,” Boston said to ESPN’s Angel Gray postgame. “Only God. All my credit goes to him. The coaches did a great job on scout. We’re going to the Final Four!”

South Carolina never trailed in the contest, jumping out to a 25-15 lead by halftime. The Gamecocks then matched their first-half scoring total in the third quarter alone to increase their lead to 50-30 heading into the fourth and put the game out of reach for good. They out-rebounded the Bruins 42-34 thanks to the big day from Boston.

“Just being locked in,” Boston said. “I think everybody stepped up. Both (Brea Beal and Bree Hall) today played a spectacular game. Hitting big shots. Played great on Charisma (Osborne) all night. Just making it hard. Everybody that stepped on the floor I think just gave it their all.”

It wasn’t just Boston who helped them earn the win, however. Senior guard Zia Cooke was also instrumental, finishing with 18 points, 15 of which came in the second and third quarter as South Carolina pulled away. She also had eight rebounds.

“Zia is a killer,” Boston said. “That’s what she does. She scores. She defends. She does everything. Look at her. She wants to go to Dallas.”

The Final Four appearance is the fifth since 2015 for South Carolina, with all of them coming under coach Dawn Staley. The Gamecocks have now won 42 straight games dating back to last season. If they are able to complete the undefeated season, it would be just the 10th time in the history of women’s college basketball that any team has done so.