Four-time MVP A’ja Wilson gave young hoopers a timeless piece of advice last year: “Bet on yourself.” Turns out, Indiana Fever star Aliyah Boston took that message to heart. And now she’s betting on herself to slow down the very player who once inspired her. Call it ironic. Call it a full circle moment. After all, it was Wilson who motivated Boston to join Dawn Staley’s Gamecocks.

And now, it’s Wilson again fueling Boston, only this time as her fiercest challenge on the biggest stage, the WNBA semifinals. Desperate times demand bold moves, and Indiana is throwing everything at Las Vegas. Leading the charge? Boston, who has embraced a provocative strategy to unsettle Wilson. And so far, it’s working.

At halftime, the Fever had held Wilson to 5-of-18 shooting for 12 points. Revealing her defensive approach, Boston admitted: “Honestly, tryne kinda be annoying a little bit. Cause honestly, A’ja is a pretty great player, so I’m making sure that my presence is felt.” That presence has already made waves, but it turns out the idea wasn’t exactly a secret. Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, sidelined by injury but still active in practice and film sessions, shared the plan a day earlier on her podcast.

“Their best player, A’ja… One of our best players is Aliyah Boston… They’ll guard each other. And I think that’s what makes it so cool because both of them are healthy…and the key to, like, really stopping them is stopping A’ja,” said the injured Fever player. Cunningham added that while Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray remain threats, nothing compares to the battle in the paint.

She added, “I think the key matchup right there is AB and A’ja, and it has always been a freakin’ battle. They go at it. Like, it’s gonna be fun.” And now, under the bright lights of Michelob Ultra Arena, that very battle is shaping the series. Wilson versus Boston. But giving Boston full support is her Indiana Fever team. Kelsey Mitchell has already surpassed the 25+ mark in points. Furthermore, Sims is also performing her offensive duties, dropping over 15 points of her own.

But it’s another big player from Indiana that is stealing the limelight. Three-time WNBA champion Natasha Howard scored a double-double to start the semifinals against Las Vegas. The way Indiana is playing, they don’t look like the underdogs here. They had a 14-point lead in the third quarter against the Aces. A’ja Wilson was just called for her fourth foul with 3:21 left in the third quarter, and she’s checking out for now. And it all began with Aliyah Boston smothering A’ja Wilson on offense. Wilson is also the reason Boston made it to the WNBA.

A’ja Wilson is the reason Aliyah Boston joined the South Carolina Gamecocks

When Aliyah Boston chose South Carolina in 2018, she was following the path blazed by A’ja Wilson, the Gamecocks’ first-ever national champion and Naismith Player of the Year. For Boston, who was the No. 3 overall recruit in her class, Wilson’s success was more than just inspiring. It was proof of what Dawn Staley’s program could produce. “I committed to South Carolina big reason was because of A’ja and the talent that she has,” Boston said.

At the time, Wilson had just been drafted No. 1 overall by the Las Vegas Aces. She was fresh off a decorated college career where she averaged 22.6 points and 11.8 rebounds as a senior. Wilson also led South Carolina to its first NCAA title in 2017. Boston arrived a year later and immediately showed she belonged in the same conversation. In her debut game, she recorded the program’s first triple-double by a freshman since 1980, finishing with 12 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 blocks against Alabama State.

By her senior year, she had cemented herself as one of the most dominant players in college basketball, averaging 13 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game, while also winning the Naismith Player of the Year award, just like Wilson. The connection between the two extended beyond stats. Boston recalled being ‘in celebrity shock’ when Wilson returned to campus during her freshman year. But the bond quickly turned into a sisterhood. “Now, she’s like a real sister,” Boston recalls.

Wilson’s journey paved the way, but Boston made her own mark. Now, as the two Gamecocks battle it out in the semifinals, it will be interesting to see who moves on to the semifinals.