Underrated skill makes Fever star the key to her Unrivaled team’s success

Phantom BC didn’t make the playoffs last season and was thus only allowed to protect one player from its first roster. Coach Roneeka Hodges chose Satou Sabally, but Sabally will miss the season due to a concussion suffered in the WNBA finals. So, Phantom has an almost completely revamped roster with Natasha Cloud, Dana Evans, Kelsey Plum, Kiki Iriafen, Tiffany Hayes, and Aliyah Boston. 

Plum is arguably the biggest star on that roster, but Boston could be the team’s X-Factor. Her size, defensive ability, and skill around the basket make her a threat in the half-court. What sets her apart from other bigs is her ability to make plays out of the post. Sue Bird mentioned that skill as a potential difference-maker for Phantom during her Unrivaled preview on Bird’s Eye View. 

“Aliyah Boston looks great right now,” Bird said about Boston. “She looked great in USA camp. She’s now really found her game and just has a confidence about ‘this is what I do, and I’m going to be great at these things.’ And one of those things is playmaking.”

She also added, “If you could have a post player in three-on-three who can playmake—it’s so hard to guard guards in this as it is because the floor is so open—but to have a post player who can make the play is going to be helpful to Plum, Tip Hayes, Dana Evans.”

Aliyah Boston should have a bigger role than in the last Unrivaled season

Last season, Aliyah Boston played for Vinyl and came off the bench behind veteran Dearica Hamby. Boston averaged 5.9 points and 5.2 rebounds in 9.3 minutes per game. She ranked towards the bottom of the league in average production and playing time. It took Boston a bit to get used to the speed of the game, but she ended up having some big performances. She recorded 10 points on 4-6 shooting, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks in only nine minutes in the championship game against Rose BC. 

Boston wasn’t much of a playmaker in her first Unrivaled season, averaging only 0.8 assists per game. After the season she just had with the Fever and the confidence she gained in her ability to make plays, that should change this time around. Between Natasha Cloud, Dana Evans, Kelsey Plum, and Tiffany Hayes, Phantom has a lot of playmakers on the perimeter. Allowing Boston to act as a point forward in the half-court would give the offense a different look and get the guards open for easy shots they don’t have to create themselves. 

Boston’s overall role should change as well. She and Kiki Iriafen are the only bigs on Phantom’s roster. While Iriafen is a great player, she is younger than Boston and has no Unrivaled experience. So, Boston has a good shot at a starting role and significantly more minutes than last season. Boston’s and Iriafen’s play will be vital to their team’s success, considering some of the great bigs playing in Unrivaled this season. 

Breeze BC has all the length in the world with Dominique Malonga and Cameron Brink. Hive has veteran experience and defensive prowess with Monique Billings and Ezi Magbegor. The Laces will run much of their offense through Alyssa Thomas, with Naz Hillmon and Maddy Siegrist adding important forward depth to the roster. The Lunar Owls may have lost Napheesa Collier but still have great size and athleticism with Aaliyah Edwards and Temi Fagbenle. Mist’s roster features a ton of size and defensive strength between Breanna Stewart, Alanna Smith, and Li Yueru. Rose BC already found great success with Azurá Stevens last year and has Shakira Austin taking over for Angel Reese. Last but not least, Vinyl held on to Dearica Hamby and brought in Brittney Griner to add some size and rim protection.