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Aliyah Boston Praises 'Second Mom' Dawn Staley for Confidence Boost at South Carolina

Indiana Fever superstar Aliyah Boston spoke about South Carolina Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley's impact on her confidence.
Grant Young|
Jan 5, 2023; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks forward Aliyah Boston (4) speaks with South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley against the Auburn Tigers in the first half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
Jan 5, 2023; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks forward Aliyah Boston (4) speaks with South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley against the Auburn Tigers in the first half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images | Jeff Blake-Imagn Images

Despite being only 23 years old, Indiana Fever superstar Aliyah Boston has blossomed into one of the most talented forwards in the entire WNBA and appears to have an extraordinary career ahead of her.

Of course, South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley has played a huge role in her development. Boston spent four seasons under Staley and was a huge part of their 2022 NCAA National Championship-winning team.

Staley's hard work building a perennial National Championship contending program and molding some of the sport's best players recently earned her a record-breaking contract extension.

Boston made an appearance on a January 21 episode of In Case You Missed It with Khristina Williams. And at one point, the Fever star (who was the No. 1 pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft) spoke about Staley's impact on her in the wake of this contract.

"First and foremost, it is so deserving for Coach Staley," Boston said of the contract extension. "No one else deserves to have that type of recognition, because she is just so amazing. I feel like I've said this so many times, that Coach Staley is like a second mom to me."

Boston then relayed a story about Staley telling her to use her voice her freshman year and discussed the potential of being a captain and leader for the Gamecocks.

While she seemingly felt unsure of whether she was ready for this, Boston then added, "It just goes to show the confidence that she instills in you from such a young age. Like, she is not waiting for senior year or junior year... she's like I know you have the voice, I know you have the confidence. You just have to be able to step into that role and embrace it."

Boston soon became a leader for South Carolina after that, and has carried those leadership traits over to the Indiana Fever.

Published
Grant Young
GRANT YOUNG

Grant Young covers Women’s Basketball, the New York Yankees, and the New York Mets for Sports Illustrated’s ‘On SI’ sites. He holds an MFA degree in creative writing from the University of San Francisco (USF), where he also graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and played on USF’s Division I baseball team for five years. However, he now prefers Angel Reese to Angels in the Outfield.

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