South Carolina's Aliyah Boston Named 2022 Naismith Women's Player of the Year
Joseph Zucker@@JosephZucker
Featured Columnist IVMarch 30, 2022
South Carolina star Aliyah Boston was honored as the Naismith Women's College Player of the Year on Wednesday.
The Naismith Trophy @NaismithTrophyππππππ ππ πππ ππππ π<br><br>South Carolina's Aliyah Boston has been named the 2022 <a href="https://twitter.com/jerseymikes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jerseymikes</a> Naismith Womenβs College Player of the Year!<br><br>Boston has averaged 16.8 PPG/12.2 RPG this season.<a href="https://twitter.com/aa_boston?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@aa_boston</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/GamecockWBB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GamecockWBB</a> π€ <a href="https://t.co/Mtl7OLojvC">pic.twitter.com/Mtl7OLojvC</a>
B/R Hoops @brhoopsShoutout to Aliyah Boston on being named the 2022 Naismith Womenβs Player Of The Year π <a href="https://twitter.com/HighlightHER?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HighlightHER</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aa_boston?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@aa_boston</a> <a href="https://t.co/ajgg1JLe5u">pic.twitter.com/ajgg1JLe5u</a>
Iowa's Caitlin Clark, Baylor's NaLyssa Smith and Stanford's Haley Jones were the three other finalists for the prize.
It was a big day for the Gamecocks, as head coach Dawn Staley was named the Naismith Womenβs College Coach of the Year as well.
As the 2021-22 season unfolded, Boston distanced herself in the race for college basketball's top individual awards.
South Carolina went 29-2 during the regular season and ran the table in its 11 games against Top 25 opposition. The Gamecocks have reached the Final Four of the NCAA tournament and will play Louisville in the national semifinals Friday.
No player was more instrumental in the team's success than Boston.
The 6'5" forward has averaged 16.8 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.5 blocks through 35 games. Per Her Hoop Stats, she's first in win shares (16.0) and player efficiency rating (44.9).
Boston smashed the SEC record for consecutive double-doubles, reaching 27 in the Sweet 16 with a 28-point, 22-rebound effort against North Carolina.
"I would've loved to play with Aliyah," Staley said to espnW.com's Katie Barnes. "She makes your job easy. She makes playing easier because she's telling you what you need to do."
South Carolina's 2020-21 season ended in heartbreak as Boston's put-back attempt hit the back iron in a Final Four defeat to Stanford. She was unable to hide her disappointment after the buzzer.
"I don't really think about it," she said to Barnes of the moment. "I haven't really thought about it unless I'm asked the question. Because I can't sit on it because I mean, if you sit on the moment the entire time, that's not really helping you get any better because you're focusing on that exact thing."
Boston and the Gamecocks could have a shot at redemption. Should they reach the national championship, they could face a rematch with Stanford if the Cardinal take down Connecticut in the semifinals.
As much as winning the Naismith Women's Player of the Year will mean for Boston, lifting the program's second title might be a sweeter accomplishment.