“Clear as Day”: Aliyah Boston Reveals Where She Stands Amid Growing MVP Conversations Surrounding Kelsey Mitchell, Caitlin Clark

Boston Backs Clark and Mitchell for MVP

After the Indiana Fever's 109-102 loss to the New York Liberty, teammate Aliyah Boston weighed in on MVP conversations surrounding Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell. Speaking on the Indiana Fever YouTube channel, Boston said both players are "clear as day" MVP candidates. She argued their numbers and the way opponents guard them set them apart.

"The numbers that they're putting up, both C and Kels, I feel like it's clear," Boston said. "I mean, teams guard them differently. They're sending everyone, they're throwing junk defenses. I mean, ball pressure is so different, and they still consistently put up these numbers. So I feel like there's not really much of a campaign. I feel like when you just look at the numbers and you look at the way teams guard, it's clear as day."

Clark is averaging 21.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game and leads the league in assists. She has an offensive rating of 113.9 and contributes 42.2% of Indiana's assists. Mitchell leads Indiana in scoring at 24.6 points per game, second in the league behind A'ja Wilson (25.9). Mitchell's offensive rating is 116.7, and she ranks fourth in three-pointers made per game with a usage rate of 26.8%. Together, Clark and Mitchell account for more than 45% of Indiana's points this season.

A Playoff Berth and Back-to-Back Losses

The Fever secured a playoff berth Friday night when the Portland Fire lost to the Toronto Tempo 82-79. But the celebration was short-lived. After losing 85-91 to the Dallas Wings on August 20, the Fever fell to the Liberty 109-102, dropping from fourth to fifth in the standings with six games left.

WNBA analyst Ben Daniel, posting on his YouTube channel, raised concerns about Indiana's mental toughness. "The team knows that they're right about to make the playoffs," he said. "They clinched last night with a loss from another team, and they said, 'Ah, we could take our foot off the gas.' A lot of questions still surround this team. How is their mental toughness?" He also argued the Fever often rely on opponents falling apart. "It seems like we luck into these wins against these close games," Daniel said. "It doesn't seem like we really outmuscle or outgrit a team. We just kind of, it either falls into our lap or Caitlin Clark hits a game-winning three against the Washington Mystics."

But Indiana had not clinched when it lost to Dallas; the berth became official the following night. There is no evidence from inside the Fever that the team relaxed because of its postseason spot. The Fever are 4-5 in games decided by five points or fewer, and their close wins include moments of individual execution, such as Clark's 32-foot game-winner against Washington on June 8.

Fatigue and no Excuses

Caitlin Clark attributed the recent struggles partly to the schedule after the Liberty game. "I mean, like there's no excuses," she said. "Our schedule's tough, and I think we play more back-to-backs than just about anybody in the league, but you know, it is what it is." The Fever have three sets of back-to-back games, tied for most in the WNBA with Las Vegas, New York and Golden State. Their back-to-back sets were July 8-9, July 17-18 and August 22-23. Sunday's game will be their fifth in seven days.

Clark offered no excuses for the two straight losses. "Everybody's tired, everybody's sore, who cares?" she said. "Figure out a way to make yourself feel better and suit up and go.”

The Fever had won five straight before the defeats. They were third in the standings, now fifth. The Liberty, Mystics and Wings are 2.5 games behind Indiana for the No. 8 seed. The Fever also played seven games in 12 days from August 12-23, including five consecutive road games, with less than 24 hours before the Chicago game.

What's Behind the Losses

Coach Stephanie White described the Dallas loss as "sleepwalking," attributing it to fatigue: "Our energy, our activity, our awareness wasn't great... It was almost like we were sleepwalking." The Dallas game was the Fever's fourth in seven days across four cities, including an overtime win over Atlanta two days prior.

Against the Liberty, the Fever's offense remained strong. Clark, Mitchell and Boston combined for 68 points, but the team missed 11 free throws (11-of-22) while the Liberty went 24-of-29. The loss tied the game at 100 before the Liberty closed it out. The Fever lost despite scoring 100 or more points, extending their own WNBA record in that category.

The Fever are 2-2 in their five-game road stretch in eight days. Defensively, the team has been unreliable in fourth quarters and final five minutes, though the offense is strong in close situations. Clarke's individual heroics against Seattle on July 17 included 45 points and 10 assists, hitting a step-back three with 39 seconds left and four straight free throws in the final 17 seconds. Mitchell's three-pointer with 1:05 left forced overtime against Atlanta before Makayla Timpson scored 20 to win.

Clark eyes the road trip's final game against the Chicago Sky as an opportunity. "We're coming off a loss," she said. "It's a great opportunity for us to go and finish this road trip on a win."

The next game is on Sunday, less than 24 hours after the Liberty defeat. To keep home-court advantage in the first round, the Fever must shore up defense and free throws, as another loss could slip them further in the standings.