Aliyah Boston was dominant this winter and picked up the league’s Defensive Player of the Year award for her work with the Phantom. In the Unrivaled Basketball League, she led the competition with 2.1 blocks per game. She averaged 18.9 points, shot 55% from the field and 81.5% from the free-throw line, and ranked among the top rebounders. The Phantom finished with the No. 1 seed and earned a first-round bye.
Now the news turns grim. Boston has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a right lower-extremity injury. That means she will miss the upcoming WNBA campaign and the Phantom’s deep postseason push. The timing hurts. The WNBA season was set to begin soon and Boston was expected to be a key piece for her pro team.
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Aliyah Boston has been ruled out for the remainder of the season due to right lower extremity injury. pic.twitter.com/5sHea38iHP
— Unrivaled Basketball (@Unrivaledwbb) March 1, 2026
Boston’s resume is clear. She was the top pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft and has been a three-time WNBA All-Star starter. She earned Rookie of the Year honors and has become a consistent two-way force. This past Unrivaled run also earned her a spot on the All-Unrivaled second team, a selection that drew some fan criticism.
Her defensive impact was obvious. The Phantom allowed 66.5 points per game and just one point per shot attempt. Boston also averaged nearly eight defensive rebounds and led the league with three “stocks” per game. She stayed under three fouls per game, showing discipline for a rim protector.
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Boston was expected to join Team USA for March training camp. With this injury, that appearance is now in doubt. Recovery timelines are unclear beyond the team’s ruling that she’s out for the season. Fans and coaches will now wait and hope for a full return next year.
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