Aliyah Boston to make broadcasting debut after signing with NBC

Is there anything Aliyah Boston can’t do? On Monday, NBC Sports announced the 2023 WNBA Rookie of the Year will make her broadcasting debut as a studio analyst on Big Ten women’s games this season.

Boston will serve as an analyst alongside Meghan McKeown while Carolyn Manno hosts coverage. The former South Carolina standout certainly doesn’t waste time. Boston’s final game in her rookie season was on Sept. 10.

In her debut campaign, Boston averaged 14.5 points and 8.4 rebounds per game while shooting a league-high 57.8% from the floor. Boston is the first rookie to ever lead the league in field-goal percentage.

Boston is only the fifth player ever to win WNBA Rookie of the Year unanimously, joining A’ja Wilson (2018), Elena Delle Donne (2013), Tina Charles (2010) and Candace Parker (2008). Additionally, the 6-foot-5 forward is only the sixth rookie to start an All-Star Game and the first since 2014.

Boston was thrilled to bring home Rookie of the Year.

“This was a really, really big dream of mine to win Rookie of the Year,” Boston said, according to the Greenville News. “It’s up there with our natty and winning national player of the year that year … but it’s just special that I’m on the professional level and able to do this.”

Boston’s accolades did not translate into success for her team. The Fever finished with a 13-27 record, the third-worst in the league. As impressive as Boston’s first-year accomplishments are in the WNBA, they pale in comparison to her collegiate career.

Aliyah Boston’s South Carolina success

In a perennial program, Boston was the perennial player. In four years, Boston hauled in nearly every hardware imaginable. The Virgin Islands native was the program’s first National Freshman of the Year (2020), National Defensive Player of the Year (2022, 2023) and its second to sweep the National Player of the Year awards (2022).

Moreover, Boston boosted the Gamecocks to three SEC Regular-Season championships, three SEC Tournament titles and three NCAA Final Four showings, including the 2022 National Championship. In her four years at South Carolina, the Gamecocks posted an astounding 129-9 record.

Boston is prepared for her latest venture. The Gamecocks legend majored in mass communications while at South Carolina. Now, the budding WNBA star will communicate about the game she loves so dearly with fans at home.