All eyes are on playoff seeding in the final games of the WNBA regular season, but regardless of where they finish, the Indiana Fever will face a tough opponent.
Caitlin Clark has kept the spotlight on the Fever for three seasons, and whether it's fair or not, that's made the team's championship expectations very high.
That is especially true because of Kelsey Mitchell's historic season and a great year from Clark. There's an argument for three Indiana players to be voted First Team All-WNBA, and that third player, Aliyah Boston, will be vital to the Fever's goal of a deep postseason run.
Boston's style of play will be important in the playoffs
The Fever are one of the best offenses in the league, and part of the reason why is that they are top three in pace. Clark's ability to push the ball up the court and catch a defense off guard is elite, and Mitchell has been deadly all season in transition and in the halfcourt.
However, that fast pace has been a double-edged sword for Indiana. Clark's turnover issues continue to be a blemish on her game, and the Fever's cold streaks do them no favors when their defense isn't playing up to Stephanie White's standard.
That is where Boston does the heavy lifting. She leads Indiana with 2.1 defensive win shares, and her 5.2 overall win shares are second on the team. To put it simply, Boston has a big impact on the Fever's defense. To compare, Angel Reese leads the WNBA with 3.2 defensive win shares.
Whoever the Fever play in the playoffs, they'll face an All-Star-level center like Reese, and Boston will be tasked with slowing them down. The 24-year-old also will be needed to put pressure on the opposing team's center in the pick-and-roll game and in her post-up ability.
Avoiding foul trouble will be key to Indiana's success
The Fever's stars will need to avoid foul trouble, as games are expected to be played tighter and with increased physicality. This is true for Mitchell and Clark, but especially so for Boston.
Makayla Timpson has made great strides this season, but it's a tall task to ask her to turn it up to a higher gear in the playoffs. Also, the trio of Myisha Hines-Allen, Monique Billings, and Mercedes Russell is just not up to the task in a playoff series.
Boston needs to play as many minutes as possible and dominate if the Fever want to win a WNBA championship for the first time since 2012.
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