In the world of WNBA offseason news, there’s been another shake-up, and this one has both fun and friendship written all over it. Haley Jones, star of the Atlanta Dream, is heading Down Under to join Australia’s Geelong Supercats, and no one is more excited—or has a more delightful take on it—than Aliyah Boston, the Indiana Fever’s first overall pick in 2023.
Jones, who was drafted sixth overall, has opted for a little Aussie adventure during the WNBA offseason, and you can’t blame her. More court time? Check. Extra cash? Double check. Kangaroo selfies? To be confirmed.
“Glowing in Australia” – That’s the cheeky, three-word message Boston dropped on her Instagram stories, sharing a glowing post from her friend Jones. And yes, she really is glowing in those Geelong colors, making her debut in the WNBL after spending her entire career Stateside. A first season Down Under? Let’s hope she picks up some Aussie slang to go with it!
For those unaware, these two WNBA stars have history that runs deeper than just draft numbers. The Haley-Aliyah friendship dates back to 2017 when they teamed up for Team USA at the FIBA Under-16 World Cup. While Boston was out there leading the charge, Jones served as an alternate but still managed to make a bestie for life. And despite attending rival colleges (South Carolina for Boston, Stanford for Jones), their bond remained rock-solid. In fact, when Stanford broke Boston’s heart in the 2021 Final Four, Jones was right there to console her.
Besties for life and for basketball!
Now, before you ask if Boston herself is headed overseas, the answer is not yet. Our girl is keeping her feet firmly planted in the States this offseason. No Turkish delights or Australian barbecues for her—though she may be keeping a close eye on the competition from afar. Meanwhile, a handful of her Indiana Fever teammates have gone full jet-setter mode. Temi Fagbenle, Grace Berger, Damiris Dantas, and Erica Wheeler are all tearing it up in Turkey. They’ve essentially made Istanbul the unofficial Fever reunion spot. So, if you’re vacationing there, you might want to check out a game.
As for Kelsey Mitchell, the question is whether she’ll re-sign or pack her bags again for Athletics United League, where she’s practically a regular. NaLyssa Smith is off to China to play for the Zhejiang Golden Bulls, and honestly, we can’t wait to see how many dumplings she eats while dropping 30-point games.
And Caitlin Clark? Yeah, don’t expect to see her in any basketball action this offseason. Guess she’s busy being, you know, Caitlin Clark.
So while we watch Haley Jones “glow” in Australia, we’ll all keep waiting to see which other WNBA stars take a cue from her and head overseas. Until then, we’ll be following along on Instagram, living vicariously through Aliyah Boston’s sarcastic and fun commentary.