The Indiana Fever made their intentions clear when they faced Las Vegas. Rookie star Aliyah Boston revealed exactly how she approached her matchup with A’ja Wilson, the league’s reigning MVP.
“Honestly, just trying to kind of be annoying a little bit, because A’ja is a pretty great player,” Boston said after the game. “So for me, just trying to make sure my presence is felt.”
That presence was noticed. Wilson, who usually dictates the flow inside the paint, had one of her quieter nights as Boston and the Fever swarmed her with physical defense and constant pressure. It wasn’t about stopping her completely but making every possession difficult.
SportsCenter highlighted Boston’s words on X, posting: “Honestly just trying to kind of be annoying a little bit. Aliyah Boston kept it real on Indiana’s defensive strategy for the MVP A’ja Wilson.”
“Honestly just trying to kind of be annoying a little bit.”
Aliyah Boston kept it real on Indiana’s defensive strategy for the MVP A’ja Wilson 🤣 pic.twitter.com/owtFyVjVJr
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 21, 2025
The Fever’s focus paid off. For much of the night, Wilson struggled to create her usual rhythm. When asked, Boston explained that the goal was to contest every touch, use her size, and stay locked in against the Aces’ top scorer.
The exchange underscored Wilson’s influence. Even when she doesn’t fill up the stat sheet, the amount of attention she draws is a victory in itself. Boston admitted the challenge was more about effort and mentality than anything tactical.
A’ja Wilson isn’t just a star who scores points. She forces defenses to reshape their entire approach, and for Indiana, that meant leaning on Boston to make the MVP work harder than usual.
A’ja Wilson Slumps And Becky Hammon Warns Fever
For the second straight game, A’ja Wilson was struggling to find her usual rhythm on offense. The Las Vegas Aces star, who is normally automatic inside the paint, shot below her standard in the recent loss. But head coach Becky Hammon dismissed any concern, making it clear that Wilson’s off night is only temporary.
“I think she just missed. Honestly, she had a lot of great looks. She just missed and that happens. Even the greatest players have nights off, like where they miss. So I’ll tell you that she doesn’t normally lay two stinkers in a row,” Hammon said.
Wilson their anchor and emotional leader, a player who has carried the franchise through countless battles. That consistency is why Hammon warns the Indiana Fever to expect a quick turnaround.
Slumps happen in every sport, but history suggests they don’t last long. All eyes will be on how quickly their star resets. If Hammon’s confidence is any sign, the response from A’ja Wilson could be emphatic.
For more basketball content, click on Hardwood Heroics. Sabel Reyes can be reached through sabelreyes22@gmail.com. Other websites under the Sports Heroics umbrella are Gridiron Heroics and Wisconsin Heroics.
Sabel has been working as a field reporter for People’s Television Network (PTV), mainly about the Philippine Basketball Association since 2016 and has been elevated to Executive Producer for sports in 2022. Aside from being on top of the Philippine sports scene, she is also a running enthusiast. You can also follow her on X at @SabelReyes2 and Instagram at @msabelreyes.
