Aliyah Boston's Questionable Tag Could Hint at Fever’s Caitlin Clark Plan

The Indiana Fever might return to a "flip-flop" strategy with Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark during this weekend's games.

Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark react during an Indiana Fever game. | IMAGO / Icon Sportswire

The Indiana Fever announced on Friday that star center Aliyah Boston was questionable for their game against the New York Liberty.

The Fever's status report indicated that Boston was questionable because of something regarding her right lower leg, which she has been navigating throughout this season.

Whatever is going on with Boston's leg doesn't appear to be too serious, especially since she finished Thursday night's game against the Dallas Wings healthy. But it wouldn't be surprising to see her inactive against the Liberty, given that Boston has sat out one game both times Indiana has had back-to-back games on their schedule this season.

The first came when the Fever faced the Los Angeles Sparks on July 8, then went straight to Phoenix to play the Mercury on July 9. In fact, Indiana employed what head coach Stephanie White called a "flip-flop" strategy, where Boston sat out one game of this back-to-back, then star guard Caitlin Clark sat out the second game.

The Fever could elect to do the same this weekend: Play Clark and sit Boston against the Liberty on Saturday, then play Boston and sit Clark against the Chicago Sky on Sunday.

Kelsey Mitchell, Caitlin Clark, and Aliyah Boston during an Indiana Fever game. | IMAGO / Sports Press Photo

There's a chance that both Clark and Boston are active in both games. There's also a chance (albeit slim) that Clark is inactive for both contests. But history indicates that the Fever could end up sitting Clark on Sunday.

Why Would the Indiana Fever Rest a Healthy Caitlin Clark?

Indiana is in the midst of the most grueling stretch of their regular season schedule. Tomorrow's game against the Liberty is the fourth of a five-game road trip that spans a week.

Of course, they want to win all these games to improve their postseason seeding. But keeping their roster healthy (particularly their big three of Clark, Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell) is the biggest priority at this point. Not to mention that the 14-22 Sky are among the league's worst teams, and Indiana would likely still hold the advantage even if Clark wasn't active for that game.

The same can't be said if Boston is inactive against the 22-15 Liberty, who are 7-3 in their last 10 games. But ensuring Boston (and Clark) are rested and fully fit come the postseason is more important than another win on the schedule, especially during this brutal road trip.

Time will tell what the Fever decide to do with Boston and Clark's status this weekend. But if they aren't playing in either of the two games, it might be a means of precaution rather than a serious concern.