Becky Hammon WON’T CREDIT Aliyah Boston’s Defense, Says A’ja ‘Just Missed’ in 6-of-22 Shooting

After the defending champion Las Vegas Aces stumbled in Game 3, most observers pointed straight at Aliyah Boston’s suffocating interior defense as the difference-maker. The Fever’s second-year center walled off the paint, altered shots, and held A’ja Wilson to a shocking 6-for-22 from the field — her lowest playoff percentage in years. But when Aces coach Becky Hammon addressed the media, she downplayed the Fever’s scheme.

“A’ja just missed shots she normally makes,” Hammon told reporters, shaking her head. “It happens. This is the playoffs.” She praised her own team’s fight but offered no direct acknowledgment of Boston’s performance, even as analysts and highlight reels across social media credited the Fever center with the upset.

Film tells the story that Hammon’s comments avoided. Boston shadowed Wilson from the opening tip, cutting off her favored right-hand drives, fronting her in the post, and forcing her into awkward turnaround jumpers. She also stayed out of foul trouble, allowing Indiana to keep its defensive anchor on the floor for 38 minutes. Every time Wilson tried to slip into her midrange sweet spot, Boston’s 6-5 frame was already there.

Fever coach Stephanie White praised Boston’s poise afterward, saying, “She made A’ja work for every inch. That’s all you can ask in a game like this.” Teammates were even more effusive, calling her “our backbone” and “the key to the series.”

On social media, Hammon’s remarks triggered debate. Some fans agreed with her assessment that Wilson simply had an off night; others accused her of disrespecting a rising star’s elite defensive showing. Clips of Boston’s blocks and contested rebounds were paired with Hammon’s quote and captions like “this isn’t luck” and “put some respect on Aliyah.”

Whether Hammon’s words were gamesmanship or genuine belief, the message inside the Fever locker room was clear: they’ve got the Aces on their heels, and their young center just announced herself as a playoff force. With Indiana one win away from the Finals, Boston’s defense may soon be impossible for anyone — even opposing coaches — to ignore.