COLUMBIA, S.C. — Most of the 18,000 fans on hand at Colonial Life Arena left Sunday’s 88-64 South Carolina victory over LSU with the same opinion as coach Dawn Staley when it comes to Aliyah Boston as the national player of the year.
“I don’t think Aliyah has to do that,” Staley said when asked if the senior forward took a step forward Sunday in reclaiming the national player of the year honors she won last season. “I think the beauty of Aliyah is her entire body of work. There’s not anyone in the country that produces like she produces on both sides of the basketball. Nobody.
“As far as I’m concerned — I’ve got no vote in it, besides my mouthpiece — she is the best player in the country.”
Meanwhile, the 13,150 fans who filled Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, on Sunday are just as convinced as Iowa coach Lisa Bluder that guard Caitlin Clark is the national player of the year.
Understandably, the coaches and fans on both sides are expected to passionately advocate for their player. For the media and coaching panels who vote on the various player of the year…
