South Carolina alum Aliyah Boston to join ESPN studio team for Women's Final Four

ESPN added some more star power to its studio desk team for the Final Four of the Women’s NCAA Tournament in Cleveland this weekend. The sports network is tabbing former South Carolina and current Indiana Fever star Aliyah Boston to join the crew.

Boston, who played four years for Dawn Staley at South Carolina and was a key cog on the 2022 national championship team, was selected as the No. 1 overall pick by the Fever in the 2023 WNBA Draft. Boston took home Rookie of the Year honors for her debut season, too.

“It is a dream to be a part of such a special weekend and I’m so glad that God has opened this door for me. I could not be happier to join this incredible team,” Boston said in a release from ESPN. “As a player there was no bigger thrill than the Final Four. I’m really excited to return, share my experience, and shine a light on the amazing players we’ll see take the court in Cleveland.”

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Boston will join the studio desk crew featuring host Elle Duncan along with analysts Carolyn Peck, Andraya Carter and Chiney Ogwumike.

“We are incredibly excited to welcome such a legend to our set,” said ESPN vice president of production Sara Gaiero in the release. “Aliyah will bring great energy to our already stellar crew, and we cannot wait to watch what she brings to our coverage as someone who won the National Championship just two years ago.”

The first national semifinal tips off at 7 p.m. on Friday, followed by the second matchup later in the evening. The Gamecocks face NC State in the first game and Iowa will play in a showdown with UConn in the nightcap in Cleveland.

Boston’s alma mater is trying to finish off a perfect season

Staley is happy to “beat the odds” as the South Carolina women’s basketball coach has an undefeated squad that’s favored to win it all at this point rolling into the final weekend.

South Carolina fell short of that goal last season, but Staley’s crew rallied and then some in 2024.

Referring to preseason odds on where the Gamecocks would finish, Staley said her team exceeded those outside expectations and aren’t done yet.

“Just proud. Just proud because we beat the odds,” Staley said. “The odds said that we weren’t — we shouldn’t make it back to the Final Four. Just proud of our team and for them believing in themselves. They created a certain level of chemistry and culture, and they stuck with it, and then they allowed us to coach them. They trusted us to coach them, even when it didn’t feel good to them personally at different times of the season.”