There aren’t many basketball players who can rival Aliyah Boston.
The former South Carolina standout won a national championship, a Wooden Award and a Naismith Award during an outstanding career with the Gamecocks. From the moment she first set foot on the court in Columbia, S.C., she was a star, nearly averaging a triple-double as a freshman and averaging at least 13 points and 9.8 rebounds every subsequent season.
It’s no surprise that when she reached the WNBA, she was an immediate star. The Fever selected Boston first overall in 2023, and she went on to be named an All-Star in her rookie year and win the league’s Rookie of the Year honors after averaging 14.5 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.
Boston’s career is far from over. She’s a star in Indiana, and is likely looking at a pairing with Iowa guard Caitlin Clark for the 2024 season when the Fever select Clark first overall in the WNBA Draft.
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Though Boston will still be playing basketball in 2024 and beyond, she is going to be making an appearance on the broadcast of the Women’s Final Four games. Here’s what you need to know about her joining ESPN’s studio desk.
Why is Aliyah Boston on the Women’s Final Four broadcast?
Boston will be part of the studio desk at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland for the Women’s Final Four, ESPN announced in a release. She will be joined by Elle Duncan, Andraya Carter, Chiney Ogwumike and Carolyn Peck.
“It is a dream to be a part of such a special weekend and I’m so glad that God has opened this door for me. I could not be happier to join this incredible team,” Boston said in the release. “As a player there was no bigger thrill than the Final Four. I’m really excited to return, share my experience, and shine a light on the amazing players we’ll see take the court in Cleveland.”
If ESPN is looking for someone to speak to the experiences of playing in the Final Four, Boston is about as perfect as it gets. While with the Gamecocks, Boston reached the Final Four every year in which there was an NCAA Tournament. There was no tournament in her freshman year, 2019-20, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Her teams twice lost in the Final Four and won the national championship in 2022.
MORE: How Caitlin Clark fits on Fever
Beyond Final Four experience, Boston has shown off her ability to be an analyst. She spent the 2023-24 season as a studio analyst for Peacock during broadcasts of Big Ten women’s basketball games.
ESPN’s coverage of the Women’s Final Four starts at 6 p.m. ET on Friday, an hour before No. 1 South Carolina tips off against No. 3 NC State.
“We are incredibly excited to welcome such a legend to our set,” said Sara Gaiero, ESPN’s vice president of production. “Aliyah will bring great energy to our already stellar crew, and we cannot wait to watch what she brings to our coverage as someone who won the National Championship just two years ago.”
Aliyah Boston stats
Boston has been a star at every stop of her career. Here’s a look at her numbers at South Carolina, as well as in her rookie season with the Fever.
South Carolina stats
| Season | Class | G | MPG | FG-FGA (FG%) | PTS | TRB | AST | STL | BLK |
| 2019-20 | FR | 33 | 23.8 | 5.3-8.7 (60.8%) | 12.5 | 9.4 | 1 | 1.3 | 2.6 |
| 2020-21 | SO | 31 | 30.4 | 5.3-10.9 (48.5%) | 13.7 | 11.5 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 2.6 |
| 2021-22 | JR | 37 | 28.5 | 6.5-11.9 (54.2%) | 16.8 | 12.5 | 2 | 1.2 | 2.4 |
| 2022-23 | SR | 37 | 26.2 | 5-8.9 (55.9%) | 13 | 9.8 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 2 |
| Career | — | 138 | 27.2 | 5.5-10.1 (54.6%) | 14.1 | 10.8 | 1.7 | 1 | 2.4 |
Fever stats
| Year | Age | G | MPG | FG-FGA (FG%) | PTS | TRB | AST | STL | BLK |
| 2023 | 21 | 40 | 31.2 | 5.8-10.1 (57.8%) | 14.5 | 8.4 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 1.3 |
Aliyah Boston net worth
Boston is believed to have had a net worth of approximately $2 million in April 2023, according to Sportsmanor. Boston signed a three-year, $233,468 contract with the Fever in the WNBA, earning an average of $77,823 per year, per Spotrac.
But as with many athletes, most of her earnings come from endorsement deals. She signed a multi-year contract with Adidas in May 2023 after she was drafted by the Fever, according to ESPN. Boston previously had NIL deals with Bose, Bojangles, crocs, Orangetheory Fitness and Under Armour, per Boardroom, though her recent deal with Adidas means Under Armour is no longer a partner.
MORE: Inside South Carolina’s undefeated record heading into Final Four
How many times has South Carolina been to the Final Four?
Boston will be watching her Gamecocks playing in their sixth Final Four overall. It is also the fourth straight for Dawn Staley’s team.
South Carolina has been a No. 1 seed in each of the past four tournaments, but has lost in two of the three previous Final Four appearances, though it won the national championship in 2022. Under Staley, the Gamecocks have won two national championships. Before her arrival, South Carolina had reached the Elite Eight only once.
| Year | Final Four result | National championship |
| 2017 | No. 1 South Carolina 62, No. 2 Stanford 53 | No. 1 South Carolina 67, No. 2 Mississippi State 55 |
| 2021 | No. 1 Stanford 66, No. 1 South Carolina 65 | NA |
| 2022 | No. 1 South Carolina 72, No. 1 Louisville 59 | No. 1 South Carolina 64, No. 2 UConn 49 |
| 2023 | No. 2 Iowa 77, No. 1 South Carolina 73 | NA |
| 2024 | TBD | TBD |
