Aaliyah Boston Reacts to Olympic Snub: A Perspective on Popularity and Performance

In a recent interview, Indiana Fever center Aaliyah Boston addressed her and Caitlyn Clark’s exclusion from the USA Women’s Basketball team set to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Boston’s reaction was gracious and supportive, praising the exceptional players who made the team while expressing her ongoing aspiration to represent her country in the future.

“I’m excited for the women that did [make the team],” Boston stated. “It’s definitely a hard thing to do, and so I think the Olympic Committee did a great job. The women that they picked are exceptional players, and so that’s obviously still one of my goals, and at some point, hopefully, I’m able to accomplish that.”

Boston’s comments reflect her respect for the selection process and her determination to continue improving her game. However, the discussion did not end with her interview. Sports analysts and fans have been weighing in, comparing Boston’s situation to that of Caitlyn Clark, another prominent player who missed out on the team.

One sports commentator highlighted the differences in popularity and impact between the two players. Last year, Boston’s rookie season with the Indiana Fever saw low attendance, but this year, games are selling out, suggesting a growing recognition of her talent. Despite this, the commentator argued that Boston’s game has not yet reached the elite level necessary for the Olympic team, suggesting that more established bigs are currently ahead of her in the pecking order.

In contrast, Caitlyn Clark’s popularity and status as a “face of the league” were emphasized. The commentator pointed out that Clark’s name alone draws significant attention and crowds, a crucial factor in her favor despite her exclusion from the team. The analysis suggested that Clark’s game, while still developing, is bolstered by her widespread recognition and marketability.

“Kaylin Clark is a bigger name,” the commentator asserted. “She should have been out there. Aaliyah Boston, keep working. It’s a lot of other bigs that are better than her right now. As she progresses, she’ll get opportunities.”

The commentator’s remarks underscore a critical dynamic in sports: the interplay between skill and marketability. While Boston’s talent is undeniable, her current impact is seen as more developmental compared to the immediate draw of Clark’s brand.

Boston’s response to her Olympic snub has been nothing short of professional, focusing on her goals and the achievements of her peers. Yet, the broader conversation reveals the complex factors at play in elite sports selection, where performance and popularity often intersect.

As Boston continues to develop her game and build her reputation, she remains a player to watch. Her journey reflects the broader narrative of athletes striving for excellence and recognition, both on and off the court. In the meantime, fans and analysts alike will continue to debate and anticipate the future roles of both Boston and Clark in the world of basketball, hopeful for their eventual representation on the Olympic stage.

Angel Reese leads Sky to 88-87 win over Fever despite Caitlin Clark’s franchise-record 13 assists

CHICAGO — — Angel Reese scored a career-high 25 points and grabbed 16 rebounds to help the Chicago Sky beat Indiana 88-87 despite 17 points and a franchise-record 13 assists for the Fever’s Caitlin Clark on Sunday.

Reese has posted a double-double in eight consecutive games, extending her WNBA rookie record. She is the first rookie since A’ja Wilson with 25-plus points and 15-plus rebounds in a single game. She joins Wilson as the only players in the WNBA this season with multiple games with at least 15 points and 15 rebounds.

It was the hottest ticket in nearly the past decade according to Vivid Seats with entry to the game going for $351 dollars on average. Reese, Clark and the two teams didn’t disappoint.

Clark played every minute and finished 5-of-11 shooting, 5 of 9 from 3, with six rebounds, four steals and five turnovers.

Chicago (6-9) trailed 82-70 with 6:38 left before Reese got going. She had 10 points and five rebounds from there to fuel the Sky’s comeback.

She grabbed an offensive rebound, was fouled as she made the putback and hit the free throw to make it 82-all with 3 minutes to go.

Kelsey Mitchell responded with a layup before Chennedy Carter tied it with a running floater with 2:30 remaining. Reese scored inside to give the Sky a two-point lead before Carter and Camilla Cardoso each hit 1 of 2 from the foul line to make it 88-84 with 27 seconds to play.

Aliyah Boston hit a contested 3 with 19 left before Marina Mabrey missed two free throws and Clark secured the loose-ball rebound but the Fever missed two shots in the closing seconds.

Mitchell scored 24 points to lead the Fever. Boston had 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists and NaLyssa Smith scored 12 points.

Chicago, which beat the Dallas Wings 83-72 on Thursday, has won back-to-back games following a four-game skid.

Indiana (7-11) had its four-game win streak snapped.

The Fever had won the previous two matchups — both in Indianapolis — between the teams this season.

Clark and Iowa lost to Reese and LSU in the 2023 national championship game and avenged that loss in the 2024 national semifinals before losing to Cardoso and South Carolina in the title game.

Rapper and Chicago-native Chance the Rapper, as well as actor/comedian Jason Sudekis, sat courtside.

Angel Reese REFLECTS on NaLyssa Smith’s TOO SHORT celly in the Sky’s VICTORY over the Fever

Angel Reese calls out NaLyssa Smith with NSFW trash talk

Former LSU superstar Angel Reese continues to get more comfortable at the WNBA level, and it hasn’t taken long for Reese’s confidence to hit new highs.

She put that on display on Sunday in a game against the Indiana Fever and rival Caitlin Clark, working her way into the paint at one point during the first half and scoring a bucket over the Fever’s NaLyssa Smith.

After Clark’s basket dropped, she turned to head back down the floor but kept her eyes on Smith while backpedaling. And she had something to say about it

Angel Reese was having a big game against the Fever, though Indiana had made a big surge in the third quarter to take the lead. Reese finished the third quarter with 15 points and 10 rebounds, a double-double.

That marked her eighth straight double-double, extending a WNBA rookie record she set when she recorded her seventh on Thursday. Prior to Reese breaking the record, Tina Charles and Cindy Brown co-owned it with six straight.

With a monster performance against the Dallas Wings on Thursday, in which Reese tallied 16 points and 18 rebounds, she became the stand-alone leader with seven straight double-doubles.

During that seven-game stretch, Angel Reese has averaged 14.1 points and 12.7 rebounds.

Her strong rookie season comes as the sport is experiencing a resurgence, in no small part thanks to rookies like Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark. Both has massive followings in college and have brought that with them to the next level.

That’s been backed up by ratings, as well as social media discourse.

A Sunday meeting between the Fever and the Sky earlier this year drew an average 2.25 million viewers on CBS, making it the most-watched WNBA game on any network in 23 years. The viewer total represented an increase of 225% from the same window last year.

Fans just want to see the latest between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, who have formed a budding rivalry.

And Sunday’s contest was once again delivering, in more ways than one.