Tag: Aliyah Boston

Aliyah Boston sees ‘the game in a different way’ as a studio analyst

Boston believes being an analyst for the Big Ten this season will enable her to see the game in a different way.

Indiana Fever forward-center Aliyah Boston will be a studio analyst for Big Ten women’s basketball coverage this season on Peacock. She was also announced as one of the members of the new cohort of WNBA marketing and promotional agreements, which will keep her stateside this offseason.

“I am super excited to be working with the Big Ten,” Boston said on NBC Sports. “I think the Big Ten as a whole is just a talented conference. Being a top athlete allows for me to be comfortable with this in the sense that I see the game in a different way versus just being on the outside looking in. I’ve been able to play against some of these girls. I’ve been playing basketball since I was 9 years old, so really just to be able to see what’s happening and be able to understand it like this, I think, is really going to help me.”

She joins other players with studio jobs, including Los Angeles Sparks players Chiney Ogwumike and Lexie Brown. Former No. 1 overall pick Rhyne Howard also recently announced an offseason job in collegiate basketball with her hire at the University of Florida as the assistant coach and director of player personnel. She will also be joining Boston as one of the players selected for the WNBA marketing and promotional agreements.

Players are starting to have more choices when it comes to staying stateside for the offseason or playing abroad. It was recently announced that Rutgers alum Kahleah Copper will also stay in the United States this offseason as the Director of Athletic Culture and Professional Development on the Scarlet Knights women’s basketball staff for the 2023-24 season.

Olympic gold medalist and two-time WNBA All-Star Ariel Atkins will be joining Michigan’s staff as the assistant coach for player development.

“I’m excited to be joining the Michigan staff, working next to Coach Arico, being on the other side of the ball and sharing my knowledge and experience with the players,” Atkins said.

Each season, players of the WNBA are provided more opportunities to earn income while also being able to rest their bodies in the offseason. Brands and organizations seem to finally understand the value and insight these players can bring off the court.

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WNBA announces new cohort of players for marketing and promotional agreements

The marketing program started in 2020 and each selected player will provide services to the WNBA.

The WNBA Collective Bargaining Agreement designates that the league must spend an aggregate of at least $1 million to promote and market selected cohorts of players during the offseason and into the next season each year.

The new cohort was announced on Thursday and includes Jewell Loyd (Seattle Storm), Rhyne Howard (Atlanta Dream), Aliyah Boston (Indiana Fever), Brionna Jones (free agent), Arike Ogunbowale (Dallas Wings) and Shakira Austin (Washington Mystics).

The program started in 2020, and each selected player will provide services to the WNBA and sign a contract with the league not to exceed $250,000.

“When we thought about the program and implementing it and evolving it over the last couple of years, it’s been about building individual brands of players and also collectively working to grow the league,” said WNBA head of league operations Bethany Donaphin, via Andscape. “We do that by connecting with partners, having them be a part of key WNBA initiatives and tentpole and really keeping them in spaces where they are culturally relevant.”

WNBA players generally do not have an offseason, and many head directly overseas to play once the WNBA season is over to continue earning a salary that oftentimes could be higher than their WNBA salary. This opportunity to stay in the United States and work for the league, however, does prohibit selected players from going overseas to play.

“Obviously, our players are always getting opportunities, and it’s not always predictable when they will come,” Donaphin said. “Part of the commitment we have in being a part of this program is not going overseas.

“We certainly recognize that’s a sacrifice, and some players have chosen to forgo an opportunity to be a part of this program to go overseas, and that’s OK. One of our priorities is that we are going to have a group that’s available in the States.”

The program helps the players build and grow their personal brands while continuing to market and promote the league.

“We want to make sure that the world knows who WNBA players are,” Donaphin said. “We’re seeing brands really show up, and I want to see that continue to grow because it’s an important component about how we really market the league and how players can build their own individual brands.”

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WNBA roundtable: 6 stars (including Aliyah Boston!) share their most-embarrassing mid-game moments and more

We asked some WNBA stars the deeper questions, like things they probably don’t want many to know.

All offseason long, For The Win has been catching up with WNBA stars as they do things that are important to them, like promoting financial education for players or joining other basketball leagues to keep their skills fresh.

For the Win asked several players various questions to help fans get to know them a little better. We decided to use the time to learn more about what makes them tick – and dish on some less serious moments in the W.

Some athletes were also made available through the WNBA’s Player Marketing Agreement (PMA) program, which was designed to create a holistic player experience and additional opportunities for players to earn income throughout the year. The program also helps players build their personal brands while connecting them to league partners through tentpole events and culturally relevant spaces.

“It was part of our overall marketing strategy,” Head of League Operatios Bethany Donaphin explained. “We thought, ‘How can we highlight player stories and elevate players across the league in a multifaceted way?’ Being able to have a platform that allows us to support players while they support the growth of the league was important.”

Aliyah Boston, Rhyne Howard, Jewell Loyd, Napheesa Collier, Sydney Colson all got to share their stories with For The Win recently. Here’s what they had to say about the growth of the WNBA, their personal brands and some of their more unfortunate moments on the court.

 

These answers have been condensed and edited for clarity.

Aliyah Boston believes increased W viewership is correlated to college basketball fans

WNBA Rookie of the Year Aliyah Boston attributes the rise of viewership to fans following their favorite college players to the league.

2023 WNBA Rookie of the Year Aliyah Boston of the Indiana Fever weighed in on the increased viewership of the WNBA. She attributes the rise to fans following their favorite college players to the league.

“Women’s basketball is getting a lot more attention being drawn to it,” Boston said on NBC Sports. “I think that’s all we can really ask for is just the continued viewership just going up; more people paying attention. As you continue to show more games, the revenue will come because, as you can tell, there are people interested. There are so many people interested in watching the W, and I think a big part of that is fan bases from college following their players into the league, which is amazing.”

The 2023 WNBA season viewership continued to grow this season, with a 103% rise in opening night viewership and a 42% year-over-year draft viewership. In addition, the All-Star game was the most viewed in 16 years.

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert thinks the new wave of post-name, image and likeness era college players coming into the league could positively affect the WNBA.

“It’s just going to be really interesting to see those players come into our league with big followings and see what that does to lift the viewership and the engagement in our league,” Engelbert said.

As the viewership increases, so will media deals and partnerships. The next to follow would be increased salaries for players, more revenue for better facilities akin to the Las Vegas Aces headquarters, and potentially more expansion teams.

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Aliyah Boston applauds possible future teammate Caitlin Clark for her impressive game

The WNBA’s Aliyah Boston has some high praise for Caitlin Clark.

Indiana Fever star and 2023 Rookie of the Year Aliyah Boston knows that potential 2024 draft pick Caitlin Clark is special.

Caitlin Clark seemingly makes national headlines frequently for her impressive game or even things like her ability to inadvertently (through some no-so-shady trash talk) draw the best out of those around her.

Clark is a generational talent, and though her decision is still up in the air, it’s expected that she will take her skills to the WNBA next spring. That means she could be paired with the Fever’s Aliyah Boston, which could ignite a franchise and invigorate a city.

Per Andrew Chernoff of WISH-TV News 8, here is what Boston thinks of the player Clark is:

“How versatile she is,” Boston said. “Her vision on the court. I think that’s super important. And I think she does a great job of that at Iowa. And so, I think it’s going to be exciting whatever she decides, whether that’s to come out (into the WNBA Draft) or that’s to stay in. Regardless, ultimately, it’s her decision. She has to do what’s best for her. But whoever we get in the number one pick, they’re going to enjoy the Fever.”

Fever’s Aliyah Boston to hit anvil at Colts game

Fever forward Aliyah Boston is hitting the anvil this weekend.

The city of Indianapolis is having a sneaky good week. The Indiana Fever secured the top pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, and now Rookie of the Year Aliyah Boston is paying Lucas Oil and the Indianapolis Colts a visit.

The Colts are back home on Saturday, Dec. 16, and that is likely music to the ears of Colts fans. Indy was on a fantastic four-game winning streak but hit a rough patch in Week 14 after a tough loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

However, there’s no better way to attempt to right the ship than with a home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Fever forward Aliyah Boston on the anvil to fire up the crowd.

Other notable names to have hit the anvil this season include Pat McAfee, Adam Vinatieri, Mike Woodson and Jarace Walker.

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7 WNBA players with unique offseason jobs, including Aliyah Boston working as a broadcaster

We are totally here for Aliyah Boston getting in her broadcasting bag.

With the WNBA offseason underway, several players take up other jobs, including Rookie of the Year, Aliyah Boston.

It’s not uncommon for athletes to find creative ways to spend their offseason. Some immediately head overseas to play more basketball once their season ends to keep their skillsets fresh. Others stay stateside in preparation for upcoming Olympic games.

Some athletes find new hobbies to take up that they don’t typically get to do during the season. From broadcasting to opening a restaurant, these hoopers prove that their game extends far beyond the court.

Here are the seven WNBA players with unique offseason jobs, including Aliyah Boston joining Peacock:

Fever, Sparks, Mercury and Storm will vie for No. 1 overall WNBA draft pick

The Fever will have the most chances to land the top pick and are guaranteed at least the third pick.

The 23rd annual WNBA draft lottery will be broadcast on Dec. 10 at 4:30 p.m. ET. The Indiana Fever, Los Angeles Sparks, Phoenix Mercury and Seattle Storm will vie for the No. 1 overall WNBA draft pick.

The Fever secured the top spot in the 2023 draft and selected Aliyah Boston No. 1 overall. Boston was unanimously named the 2023 WNBA Rookie of the Year and received all 60 votes from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.

The 2024 draft is currently scheduled to take place on April 15, 2024. Lottery odds are based on the cumulative records of the two most recent regular seasons (2022 and 2023). The Fever will have the most chances to land the top pick and are guaranteed at least the third pick. Phoenix has the next highest likelihood of winning the No. 1 spot, followed by the Sparks and Storm.

The order of selection for the remainder of the first round, second round and third round is determined by inverse order of the teams’ respective 2023 regular season records, taking into account trades and negotiations that might have affected draft order.

The remaining first-round draft order (based on 2023 record):           

5. Dallas from Chicago (18-22)

6. Washington (19-21)

7. Minnesota (19-21)

8. Atlanta (19-21)

9. Dallas (22-18)

10. Connecticut (27-13)

11. New York (32-8)

12. Los Angeles from Las Vegas (34-6)

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South Carolina says yes ‘oui’ can in win over Notre Dame in Paris

The South Carolina Gamcocks and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish played the first-ever NCAA regular-season basketball game in Paris.

The South Carolina Gamecocks and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish played the first NCAA women’s basketball regular-season game in Europe. The Gamecocks walked away with the win, defeating Notre Dame, 100-71, in Paris, France.

“It was really a blank canvas,” said Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley, who posed in front of Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece Mona Lisa at the Louvre a few days before the game. “But the chemistry that they’re building is very special.”

South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso had 20 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks, and freshman MiLaysia Fulwiley had 17 points. Five Gamecocks finished in double figures. For the Fighting Irish, Hannah Hidalgo, in her collegiate debut, posted 31 points.

The game drew the attention of notable names in basketball, including Magic Johnson and Kevin Durant. Other notable players and former Gamecocks legends such as Aliyah Boston and Zia Cooke also tuned into the game.

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Aliyah Boston named unanimous 2023 WNBA Rookie of the Year

She is the first unanimous Rookie of the Year since fellow South Carolina alum A’ja Wilson won the award in 2018.

Indiana Fever forward-center Aliyah Boston was unanimously named the 2023 WNBA Rookie of the Year. She received all 60 votes from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.

She is the first unanimous Rookie of the Year since fellow South Carolina alum A’ja Wilson won the award in 2018. Indiana selected Boston with the first overall pick in the 2023 WNBA draft. In her rookie season, she averaged 14.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocked shots, and shot a WNBA-high 57.8% from the field. She became the first rookie to lead the league in that category in a season.

Boston will receive $5,150 and a trophy to commemorate the achievement.

She is the second player in Fever history to win the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award, joining Tamika Catchings in 2002. Boston also became the first rookie in WNBA history to have at least 550 total points and 325 total rebounds in a season.

“It is so special and it is really a blessing to have won Rookie of the Year,” Boston said in a video the team shared on social media. “It is one of the goals that I set for myself at the beginning of the season and to be able to accomplish it with God’s help was amazing. So thankful for my teammates because they were really able to put me in the position. Thank you to my coaches because they motivated me. But this is honestly such a blessing and I am super excited.”

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