The Indiana Fever fell to 19-19 on the WNBA season after being defeated by the Las Vegas Aces 78-74 on Friday.
After Fever head coach Christie Sides called a timeout with 20 seconds left in the game and trailing by three points, Indiana had possession of the ball and a throw-in opportunity when the shot clock went off.
With freshman Caitlin Clark well covered, the ball was tossed to Lexie Hull, who looked in Clark’s direction and then passed it to Kelsey Mitchell. Mitchell dribbled into the box and then kicked it to Aliyah Boston, who, unlike her usual post routine, was waiting for the pass in the corner behind the three-point arc.
Boston took Mitchell’s pass without spectators and shot. The ball rumbled around in the basket for a moment before bouncing out and being caught by A’ja Wilson, all but clinching the game for Las Vegas.
Although Sides’ play gave Boston a clear path to victory, she has been heavily criticized by Fever fans on social media since the game ended for not letting Clark or Mitchell make the final shot.
Aliyah Boston has a great chance to equalize from the corner, but misses.
Was this the move Sides wanted??? to free AB???? Or was it spontaneously improvised???👀👀👀#WNBA #Fever is rising pic.twitter.com/FZqVV6IiKu
— Ashwin (@Sudharsan_ak) 14 September 2024
Still, the second-year head coach defended her game decision during Indiana’s postgame press conference.
“People know it’s going to be really tough to give Caitlin a chance on those possessions. We want to make sure we give her and Kelsey both options,” Sides said, according to Chloe Peterson.
“And (Boston) came to me right before and said, ‘Coach, should I spread out to the corner three?’ I said, ‘Get ready,’ because they’re going to take out the shooter. And it was a great shot. It went in and out.
“I had complete confidence in her to make that shot. Teams will scheme against Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell and do whatever they can to get someone else to make the three. But it’s all up to us, we have to find a way to put the ball in their hands and let them make it. But I was completely happy with Aliyah Boston’s totally open three,” Sides concluded.
Christie Sides on Aliyah Boston, who scored the 3 points that tied the game:
“I had complete confidence in her to make that shot. Teams will scheme against Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell and do everything they can to make sure someone else makes the 3.” pic.twitter.com/KccxZq5ZcA
– Chloe Peterson (@chloepeterson67) 14 September 2024
While Sides was happy with Boston’s goal, most Fever fans don’t seem to be.
