Aliyah Boston has never been one to mince words, but even weeks after the Indiana Fever‘s heartbreaking playoff exit, the pain, and the disbelief, still lingers.
The All-Star center revisited the controversial foul call that changed the course of Game 5 against the Las Vegas Aces, describing the moment as “crazy” and admitting she’s still frustrated by how it unfolded.
During her appearance on Post Moves with Candace Parker, Boston reacted to footage of the play that disqualified her late in the fourth quarter of the series-deciding matchup. Watching the replay, her emotions quickly resurfaced.
“Are you kidding me? No, are you kidding me?” she exclaimed before shaking her head in disbelief. “You know what’s so crazy? I’ve been crab dribbling all year. I have not got an offensive foul in that manner the entire season.”
That whistle, which came with just 27 seconds left in regulation, sent Boston to the bench with her sixth foul. The Fever, already reeling after Kelsey Mitchell‘s earlier injury, were forced to finish without their two best players.
The Aces seized the moment, capitalizing in overtime to seal their return to the WNBA Finals, while the Fever were left to wonder what might have been.
For Indiana, the game was a gut punch that ended what had been a breakthrough season. Despite missing Caitlin Clark for most of the year, the Fever had gone 24-20 and pushed the defending champions to the brink in a five-game thriller.
But with Boston disqualified and Mitchell sidelined, their offense collapsed in the extra period. Head coach Stephanie White challenged the foul immediately, but after review, officials upheld the decision.
“It was one of those moments that takes the air out of the team,” one Fever staff member later told The Athletic. “Aliyah was our anchor, and when that call stood, it felt like the momentum vanished instantly.”
The fallout extended beyond the court. Fans flooded social media accusing referees of inconsistency and bias, pointing out that similar plays earlier in the season hadn’t drawn whistles. The moment became one of the most talked-about officiating controversies of the 2025 WNBA playoffs.
A season of resilience
Boston, who finished with 11 points and 16 rebounds before fouling out, wasn’t just Indiana’s defensive centerpiece, she was the emotional leader of a team that defied the odds all year.
Even without Clark, the Fever reached the semifinals, captured the Commissioner’s Cup in July, and proved they could compete with the league’s elite.
Their run was all the more impressive considering how depleted the roster became. Alongside Clark, Indiana lost Sydney Colson, Aari McDonald, Sophie Cunningham, and Chloe Bibby to season-ending injuries.
Boston and Mitchell carried the team through the final stretch, with Mitchell averaging 20.2 points per game and earning First-Team All-WNBA honors.
But when Mitchell went down in Game 5 with a non-contact injury and Boston picked up her fifth and sixth fouls, Indiana’s miracle run unraveled in heartbreaking fashion.
While the controversial call ended the Fever‘s season, Boston made it clear she expects the story to be very different next year. Speaking after the loss, the 2023 Rookie of the Year issued a warning to the rest of the league.
“Be ready,” she said firmly. “I think this year we showed a lot about what we’re capable of, and we didn’t even have our full squad at full strength. So yeah – be ready.”
Her confidence reflects more than optimism. With Clark expected to return healthy and Indiana’s young core gaining playoff experience, the Fever look poised to make another deep run in 2026.
Boston‘s comments, and her renewed edge, suggest that she’s using that “crazy” Game 5 moment as motivation rather than a memory.
If her tone is any indication, next season’s Indiana Fever won’t be satisfied with moral victories. They’ll be chasing payback and perhaps a championship that was just one whistle away.
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