Aliyah Boston injury update: Fever star misses first career WNBA game

Indiana Fever center Aliyah Boston watched her team from the sidelines on Sunday for the first time in her WNBA career. 

Boston was ruled right out with what the team described as a lower right leg injury shortly before the Fever took the court against the Seattle Storm at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday, May 17.  

It marks the first time Boston has missed a game since she was drafted with the No. 1 overall pick in 2023 and ends a streak of 275 straight games played that dates back to her college career at South Carolina.  

Boston is earning $1 million this season as part of a four-year, $6.3 million extension she inked with the Fever in April. Through three games, the 6-foot-5 center is averaging 12 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists in 23.2 minutes per game.  

It’s unclear when Boston sustained the injury that ended her streak of availability. She missed time in the Fever’s last game, checking out late in the third quarter and not returning to the Fever’s overtime loss to the Washington Mystics on Friday.

Boston has been dealing with an injury she sustained during the Unrivaled offseason basketball league, which also kept her out of the FIBA Women's World Cup qualifying tournament in March.  

Although that injury was reported to be a meniscus injury, it was never officially confirmed, and Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White didn’t offer any details other than labeling her as “day-to-day."

"Our medical team can give you specifics about what exactly it is," White said.  

Media is not allowed to speak with medical personnel.  

Boston missed the Fever’s first two preseason games and has been on a minutes restriction to start the regular season as part of her recovery.  

"We said this since the first day of training camp: We're going to be managing (Boston), managing her ramp-up, managing her on the day-to-day," White said. "Again, it's still early, so there's no reason to really push anything. We want to make sure we are utilizing an abundance of caution." 

Myisha Hines-Allen replaced Boston in the starting lineup, allowing Boston to eat gummy bears as she watched.  

Superstar Fever guard Caitlin Clark told reporters pregame that Boston left big shoes to fill.  

"Obviously, Aliyah provides a lot for this team, so everybody's gotta step up," Clark said. “But at the same time, we have great pieces, we have people who can step up into that position and everybody's going to have to give a little more, give a little bit more. There are some people who did that a lot last season, so they have a lot of experience in that."