Aliyah Boston faces WNBA fine after heated exchange with Serah Williams

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Aliyah Boston filled the box score during another Indiana Fever victory Friday night, but one heated moment will cost the All-Star center. Boston received her second technical foul of the season after getting into a tense exchange with Portland Fire forward Serah Williams during Indiana’s 112-98 win.

The incident occurred with 4:42 remaining in the third quarter. Boston and Williams made contact while battling for position before the situation quickly escalated. Boston appeared to strike Williams, who responded by pushing the Fever star. The two players then stared each other down before teammates and officials stepped between them.

Both Boston and Williams were assessed technical fouls. Under WNBA rules, each of a player’s first three technical fouls results in a $500 fine. Boston is therefore expected to lose $500 for her role in the confrontation, although she remains far from the league’s automatic suspension threshold.

Aliyah Boston, Serah Williams get into heated exchange

Boston’s frustration came during an otherwise quiet third quarter for the former No. 1 overall pick. She played more than seven minutes in the period but did not attempt a field goal or score a point. Her exchange with Williams added more tension to what had become an increasingly physical game.

The confrontation did not develop into anything more serious. Teammates and officials separated the two players before the situation could escalate, and both remained in the game. Boston has largely avoided disciplinary issues during her WNBA career.

Her only previous technical foul this season came during a June matchup against the New York Liberty. Friday’s whistle increased her total to two, leaving her six away from an automatic one-game suspension.

Players are fined $500 for each of their first three technical fouls. The penalty increases to $1,000 for technicals Nos. 4 through 7. An eighth technical brings a $1,500 fine and a one-game suspension.

With only 15 regular-season games remaining, Boston would need an unlikely run of technical fouls to reach that limit.

MORE: Kelsey Mitchell makes double WNBA history in Fever’s win over Fire

Boston delivers complete performance in Fever win

The technical foul should not overshadow everything Boston contributed against Portland. She finished with 14 points, nine rebounds, six assists, five steals and two blocks, nearly producing a double-double while impacting nearly every area of the game.

Boston’s five steals matched a season high and helped Indiana create additional scoring opportunities in transition. Her six assists also reflected her development as a facilitator within the Fever’s talented offense. Kelsey Mitchell led Indiana with 26 points, extending her streak of games with at least 20 points to 13. The Fever scored 112 points and built an 18-point advantage entering the fourth quarter before completing another convincing victory.

Indiana improved to 19-10 and moved into fourth place in the overall WNBA standings. The Fever have emerged as one of the league’s hottest teams as the playoff race begins to intensify. Boston remains essential to that pursuit because of her scoring, rebounding, defense and ability to create opportunities for teammates.

Friday’s confrontation will make her $500 lighter, but it did little to diminish an impressive all-around performance in another important Fever victory.

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