Unrivaled's second season began earlier this month, and the Indiana Fever have four roster players competing in the 3-on-3 league. Aliyah Boston finds herself as a member of Phantom BC whose roster consists of several talented players. Fans saw Boston's game improve on various levels last season, and perhaps some credit for that could be due to her participation in Unrivaled's inaugural season. She picked up right where she left off from last season, wreaking havoc in her first three games of Unrivaled's 2026 season.
In each of Phantom BC's games, Boston stuffed the stat sheet. She added 18 points and 10 rebounds in game one and contributed 21 points and 7 rebounds in the second game. She also scored 10 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in Phantom’s first win.
Playing in 3-on-3 games with teammates such as Kelsey Plum, Tiffany Hayes, Natasha Cloud, and Kiki Irafen certainly enforces consistent all-around play. The three-on-three style requires each player to participate in every aspect of the sport—both offense and defense—and doesn’t allow them to play only to their strengths. One of the most beneficial features of players choosing to compete in Unrivaled is that it brings an 'Iron sharpens iron' level of competition. Boston is already stepping out of her comfort zone, working to expand her range and shoot more threes.
Aliyah Boston made it clear after the 2025 season that she wants to improve her shooting from beyond the arc. Stephanie White also wants her to expand her range. Many would question why she even needs to shoot from there when she has Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell as teammates. But every team has caught on to her strength and that's dominating inside the paint. In order for the entire team to have success, however, every player needs to be a solid triple threat, meaning they can play solid defense, score inside the paint, and beyond the arc. While her numbers were somewhat improved in 2025, it's still clear that this is the one area Boston needs to improve in.
Aliyah Boston has shown commitment to adding skills to her arsenal
Her second game with Phantom BC should be a telltale sign that she is doing just that. Her numbers from 3-point range weren't staggering by any means as she went 3-for-5, but it shows that she is committed to growing in this area. Unrivaled's format makes it very difficult for players to hide their weaknesses. Having fewer players on the court at a time would make it easy for Boston to commit to consistently owning it underneath the basket, but taking five shot attempts from 3-point range is a drastic commitment to change. The Phantom are only three games in, which allows for plenty of time to get more reps in.
Since Caitlin Clark has come onto the scene, the Fever's entire playing style has changed, and her teammates have had to adapt. Boston struggled with adjusting to the pace during Clark's rookie year, but has made vast improvements making them one of the most dangerous duos in the WNBA.
Aliyah Boston was a key piece in the Fever’s run to the semifinals despite all of their injuries. Both her points per game and assists averages increased from her rookie year, stamping her as a three-time All-Star. Clark and Boston remain under contract, leaving the Fever in a much better position than many teams across the league from a roster and free-agency standpoint. Aliyah Boston has certainly passed the eye test quickly in her first couple of games and shouldn't leave any doubt in Fever fans’ minds when it comes to her preparedness for this season.