The Indiana Fever’s practice gym was buzzing with energy, but not from the sound of basketballs bouncing or shoes squeaking on polished wood. Instead, laughter and playful banter echoed off the walls as four of the team’s brightest stars—Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, DeWanna Bonner, and Kelsey Mitchell—gathered for a different kind of competition. Today, they weren’t here to run drills or break down game film. Instead, they were about to put their friendship and team chemistry to the test in a game called the “Aliyah Boston Tea Party.”
A camera crew from Sports Illustrated had set up shop in the corner, ready to capture every moment. The rules were simple: Aliyah would ask questions about herself, and her teammates would write their answers on whiteboards, racing to see who knew her best. The winner would claim bragging rights—and maybe, just maybe, a little extra trust on the court.
The Game Begins
Aliyah, ever the charismatic host, kicked things off. “All right, ladies, first question: What’s my go-to meal after a game?”
Kelsey scribbled furiously, Caitlin bit her lip in concentration, and DeWanna grinned, already writing. The answers flew up: “Pasta,” “Chicken,” “Alfredo.” Aliyah laughed, shaking her head. “TP is right—pasta! Why would I eat chicken? Mine’s a little healthier than yours, but pasta is the answer.”
Caitlin groaned in mock defeat. “If you’d said mashed potatoes, I could’ve had it!”
The mood was light, but the competition was real. Next up: “What island am I from?” Caitlin’s board shot up first. “St. Thomas!” she shouted, earning a high five from Aliyah.
“See, you remember!” Aliyah beamed. “Any island would’ve been close, but St. Thomas is home.”
The questions kept coming, each one peeling back another layer of personality and friendship. “Am I a window seat or an aisle seat?” Aliyah asked.
Kelsey rolled her eyes. “I know it’s aisle, but I already wrote window—I sat next to her all season!”
Aliyah grinned mischievously. “Aisle, always. Gotta share the cookies.”
Basketball Roots and Teammate Teasing
The game shifted to basketball roots. “Who was my basketball idol growing up?” The answer was unanimous. “Winner!” Aliyah declared, proud that her teammates knew her so well.
“What’s my favorite sneaker to hoop in?” Aliyah asked. The answers varied, but Kelsey claimed victory, jumping up and down with her board.
“Who on the team do I tease the most?” Aliyah posed, and everyone pointed at Kelsey, who feigned outrage. “I’m everyone’s target! It’s unfair!”
The laughter was infectious, and even DeWanna—usually the calm veteran—was in stitches. “You keep us on our toes,” she said, nudging Kelsey.
Family, Favorites, and Fun
Aliyah switched gears. “What’s my go-to mom phrase when I’m dealing with my kids?”
The group paused, thinking. “Go to timeout?” Caitlin guessed. “Who did it?” DeWanna offered. Aliyah’s eyes softened. “You pulled on my heartstrings. ‘I love you’ was cute, but it’s ‘Who did it?’ That’s my line.”
As the questions continued, the Fever’s personalities shone through. “What’s my favorite spot on the floor to score from?” Aliyah asked. “Block!” Kelsey answered instantly, earning another point.
“What’s my go-to lazy fit?” Aliyah challenged. “Dogs out!” Caitlin blurted, and the room erupted in confusion and laughter. “What does that mean?” DeWanna asked, and Aliyah explained, “Her toes be barking at you—watch out! But my pedicure is always on point.”
Pregame routines came next. “What’s my go-to hype song?” Aliyah teased. “Drake?” someone tried. But Aliyah shook her head. “Trick question—I don’t listen to music before games. I ride the bus in silence.”
Caitlin’s Turn
The spotlight shifted to Caitlin. “What’s my favorite spot on the court to shoot from?” she asked.
Everyone knew the answer: “A three,” they wrote in unison. “It don’t matter where it’s at, it’s a three,” Kelsey joked, and Caitlin grinned.
“If I were a coach, what would my vibe be?” Caitlin wondered aloud.
“Mad chill,” DeWanna guessed. “No way,” Kelsey countered. “You’d get up in their grill.” The debate raged, but everyone agreed: Caitlin would be demanding but fair.
“What do I always say during practice?” Caitlin asked. “Come on, ladies!” was the chorus, and she laughed, admitting it was her go-to.
Accessories, Achievements, and Inside Jokes
“What’s one accessory I can’t live without?” Aliyah asked. “Earrings!” everyone shouted, and Aliyah twirled her hoops with pride.
“Now, who was first?” she teased, but it didn’t matter. The points were piling up, but the real prize was the camaraderie.
“When did I win my first WNBA championship?” DeWanna quizzed. “2009!” Caitlin guessed, and DeWanna nodded. “Rookie year, baby.”
“Which teammate would I call to bail me out of jail?” Aliyah asked, and everyone pointed at Kelsey, who claimed, “I got connections.” The room howled.
“What’s the name of my dog?” No one could remember. “We have to cancel the question,” Aliyah laughed.
Off-Court Dreams and Guilty Pleasures
“What would I be doing if I wasn’t playing basketball?” Aliyah asked. “Lawyer?” “Chef?” “Broadcaster?” The answers came fast, but Aliyah revealed, “Chef! I made fudgy brownies this weekend and have a mean spicy vodka sauce.”
“What’s one snack I always have on the road?” “Cheez-It!” Kelsey called out. “Extra toasty, of course. We’re sponsored, after all.”
“What artist do I always play when I have the aux?” “Rod Wave!” the group shouted, and Aliyah nodded. “The best in the world.”
Wrapping Up
The final questions flew by. “What’s my go-to cheat day meal?” “Tacos!” DeWanna claimed, and Aliyah agreed. “If I had to describe my basketball style in one word?” “KD—Kevin Durant,” Kelsey said, and Aliyah smiled. “Smooth, but KD is what I get the most.”
As the game ended, the scores were close, but the winner didn’t matter. The Fever’s stars had revealed their quirks, their connections, and their genuine affection for each other.
The Real Victory
As the camera crew packed up and the players lingered, still laughing and teasing, it was clear that the Indiana Fever’s real strength wasn’t just their talent—it was their bond. Whether on the court or off, they knew each other’s habits, hopes, and inside jokes. And that, more than any stat line or highlight reel, was the secret to their success.
The “Aliyah Boston Tea Party” was over, but the memories—and the laughter—would last all season.
Caitlin Clark Reveals Her ‘Basketball Idol’ Growing Up Without Hesitation
The WNBA season is just days away, and on Saturday, the Indiana Fever will kick off their campaign in a highly anticipated matchup against the Chicago Sky at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. ET.
The game will feature second-year superstars Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese and is expected to be a sellout—an exciting sign of the WNBA’s rapidly growing popularity.
Ahead of the matchup, Fever stars Aliyah Boston, Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, and DeWanna Bonner sat down for a recorded conversation hosted by “Sports Illustrated”. During a lighthearted Q&A game called “How Well Do We Know Each Other?” Clark asked a question that Boston answered without hesitation—and she got it right.
Clark asked, “Who was my basketball idol growing up?”
Boston replied, “Don’t worry, they don’t even have to write it,” before confidently holding up the name of former UConn and WNBA legend Maya Moore.
Clark immediately responded, “Yes, winner.”
Clark has often spoken about her admiration for Maya Moore, a trailblazer in women’s basketball. Moore, who retired in January 2023, left behind an incredible legacy—winning four WNBA championships, earning league MVP honors, making six All-Star appearances, and being inducted into both the Women’s and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2024.
One story Clark frequently shares is from when she was 12 years old and met Moore for the first time. That brief but meaningful encounter made a lasting impression on her and continues to shape how she interacts with her own fans.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22).Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
“Ten seconds can go a long way in somebody’s life,” Clark said, smiling at the memory. “That’s a good lesson whether you play sports or don’t play sports—how you treat somebody matters.”
Clark added, “I just try to take as much time as I can for those young girls, because Maya was so nice to me when I ran up to her, and that’s something that’s stuck with me all the way until I’m 22 years old.”
