South Carolina's A'ja Wilson, Aliyah Boston to battle in WNBA Fever vs. Aces game Saturday
For the first time this WNBA season, two of coach Dawn Staley's most decorated players will face each other on the court.
The two No. 1 overall draft picks to come out of South Carolina women's basketball, Aliyah Boston and A'ja Wilson will battle Saturday night (9 p.m. ET, FUBO) when the Indiana Fever travel to play the Las Vegas Aces.
Wilson, selected by the Aces in 2018, is one of the most impactful players in South Carolina history. In her senior season, she was selected the consensus National Player of the Year, All-America First Team, SEC Player of the Year and SEC co-Defensive Player of the Year. Wilson holds the program's career records in points (2,389), blocked shots (363), free throws made (597) and free throws attempted (835).
The 6-foot-4 center led the Gamecocks to their first-ever national championship in 2017 and now has a statue outside of Colonial Life Arena.
Wilson and the 2023 WNBA champion Aces came to Columbia on May 11 for a preseason game against Team Puerto Rico, the same day Wilson revealed her new Nike signature shoe deal.
When the 6-5 Boston arrived at South Carolina in 2019, she didn't steer far from the big shoes that Wilson left to fill. By the time she left in 2023, Boston won Naismith Defensive Player of the Year twice (2022, 2023) and swept the National Player of the Year awards. She led the Gamecocks to three consecutive Final Four appearances and won the national title in 2022. In 2022-23, Boston broke the South Carolina records for career double-doubles and rebounds.
Boston was named SEC Player of the Year twice and earned four Lisa Leslie Center of the Year awards, becoming the first player to win it every year of their career.
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A'ja Wilson and Aliyah Boston in the WNBA
Both Wilson and Boston were voted WNBA Rookie of the Year. Wilson, in her seventh year with the Aces, is a two-time WNBA MVP and two-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year. Boston is working through her sophomore season with 2024 first overall pick Caitlin Clark.
Last season, the Fever and Aces played three times, with all three wins going to the Aces who went on to win their second straight WNBA championship.
Staley said she loved watching her two former players battle in the WNBA.
Aliyah Boston stats vs. Aces in 2023
June 4: Seven points, four rebounds, one assist, one block
June 24: 18 points, nine rebounds, three steals, one block
June 26: 20 points, 14 rebounds, three assists, two steals, two blocks
A'ja Wilson stats vs. Fever in 2023
June 4: 27 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, two steals, four blocks
June 24: 10 points, three rebounds, three assists, two blocks
June 26: 24 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, three steals, three blocks
The WNBA season began May 14, and Boston is averaging 8.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists. The Fever are 0-5, sixth in the Eastern Conference. Wilson is averaging 24.3 points, 12 rebounds, and 2.7 assists. The Aces are 2-1, fifth in the Western Conference.
Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at lkesin@gannett.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Lulukesin
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: A'ja Wilson, Aliyah Boston play Saturday in WNBA's Fever vs Aces game
