Aliyah Boston cries, joins South Carolina celebration following national title win
Aliyah Boston did not don a South Carolina jersey during the Gamecocks’ 87-75 triumph over Iowa on Sunday. Yet, she didn’t hesitate for a moment to celebrate the national championship with her former teammates.
As confetti fell from the ceiling, Boston ran onto the court in her dress and high-heels, embracing the latest NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament champions. Boston was at the game as an ESPN analyst, but couldn’t prevent her South Carolina fandom from bleeding through.
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Boston didn’t only celebrate with players. When South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley broke down in tears during her postgame interview with ESPN’s Holly Rowe, Boston was there to lift her up. The moment beautifully reflected the way Staley raised Boston through the Gamecocks’ program.
Boston spent four seasons under Staley, etching out an unforgettable legacy. While with the Gamecocks, Boston was a two-time National Player of the Year, three-time First-Team All-American, two-time Naismith Defensive Player of the Year, two-time SEC Player of the Year and four-time SEC Defensive Player of the Year.
Beyond her individual accomplishments, Boston ushered in an unprecedented level of success at South Carolina. She finished her collegiate career with a 129-9 overall record while reaching the Final Four three times and winning the 2022 national title.
Dawn Staley and Aliyah Boston share heartfelt moment
South Carolina was the No. 1 team in the nation in Boston’s freshman year before the season was canceled due to COVID-19. Staley hasn’t forgotten what Boston brought to her program. After South Carolina defeated NC State in the Final Four, Boston conducted a sideline interview with her former coach.
While Boston attempted to ask questions about Staley’s massive win, the 53-year-old head coach repeatedly turned the focus back to Boston.
“Look, this is a proud moment. Just to be on the other side of this mic,” Staley said. “Proud of your professionalism, proud that you know the game so much that you are representing at the highest level. God is good to you.
“This is the place we wanted to be,” Staley said. “We want to do it for you. We really want to take care of Sunday for you and the Freshies because you gave basketball everything you had. And you came up short your senior year. So hopefully, we can turn the tables and win it for you.”
On Sunday, Staley did just that, and Boston was there to witness every second of it.