Aliyah Boston discusses her on-court chemistry with Caitlin Clark vs. Phoenix Mercury

The Indiana Fever and Phoenix Mercury tipped off on Sunday afternoon in a star-studded game where young stars like Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston are taking on Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner.

At the end of the first quarter, Aliyah Boston, who had eight points and five rebounds at that point, spoke with the ESPN broadcast. There, she shared how her chemistry with Caitlin Clark has been key for the Fever.

“Just running the floor and Caitlin does a great job passing,” Boston said. “That’s what we’re trying [to do], to get out on them and run and score some easy points.”

The Indiana Fever had the first overall pick in back-to-back seasons. In 2023, that led to the team drafting Aliyah Boston. The next season, it led to Caitlin Clark becoming the newest member of the Fever. The hope is that the two can develop long-term success together with Clark providing a presence on the outside while Boston does so on the inside.

A key piece of that success is Clark’s passing. While often known as a shooter, she’s also been a phenomenal passer and entered play on Sunday fourth in the WNBA in assists with 6.6 per game. At the same time, as a rookie, she’s still looking for more consistency with her ball handling, as Clark also has 5.6 turnovers per game.

One strategic move Indiana made was to have Caitlin Clark playing off the ball more than they have been at other points throughout the season. It’s a decision that head coach Christie Sides broke down at the start of the second quarter.

“I think it just gives her a breather,” Sides said. “Gives a different look. It gives her a chance to not be pressured full court.”

For Aliyah Boston, the game against Phoenix is an important one. She’s competing directly with one of the star veteran players in the game with Brittany Griner staring for the Mercury on the inside. Meanwhile, one of the headline matchups of the season is also playing out on the court with Caitlin Clark going up against the legendary Diana Taurasi.

This game is also very important with respect to the standings in the WNBA. At 7-12, the Fever are ninth overall. That’s one spot out of the playoffs. Meanwhile, Phoenix is 9-8 this season. That’s good for the sixth spot in the WNBA. So, both teams are already fighting for their spot and potential seed come the postseason.