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NEW YORK — The Indiana Fever made the most of the first No. 1 draft pick in franchise history, selecting Aliyah Boston.
The South Carolina star had a stellar college career, leading the Gamecocks to a national championship her junior year and losing only nine games total. She was a three-time Associated Press All-American and the national player of the year as a junior.
“It’s really special. I’m thankful to God for putting me in this position,” said the 21-year-old Boston, from the U.S. Virgin Islands. “Everyone in Indiana, they saw something in me. I’m ready to get there and get to work.”
The Fever had the worst record in the league last season, going 5-31.
“Aliyah Boston will have an immediate impact on our franchise on and off the court,” general manager Lin Dunn said. “We are excited to pair her with Kelsey (Mitchell) and NaLyssa (Smith) as we reload the Indiana Fever. We are very impressed with Aliyah’s post skills as well as her natural leadership skills. This a a great day for our franchise!”
The Chicago Sky, who didn’t have a first-round pick, selected Virginia Tech guard Kayana Traylor at No. 23 in the second round and Middle Tennessee forward Kseniya Malashka at No. 35 in the third round.
South Carolina forward Brea Beal, a three-time Ms. Basketball of Illinois at Rock Island, went 24th to the Minnesota Lynx. The Dallas Wings drafted Illinois State center Paige Robinson at No. 31.
Boston, like many other players, had to choose whether to return to college for a fifth season because of the extra year granted for the COVID-19 pandemic or turn pro. She decided to enter the WNBA draft, joining 111 other players to declare.
“Everyone that has a COVID year has a tough choice,” Boston said. “You could be somewhere you know the system. … It took a lot of thought.”
She was one of three South Carolina players taken in the first round. Laeticia Amihere went eighth to the Atlanta Dream and Zia Cooke 10th to the Los Angeles Sparks.
“It’s an amazing experience because this group of girls has been through life together,” Amihere said. “These four years haven’t been only about basketball. Being able to be with them on one of our biggest nights is an amazing experience.”
It’s the 10th time three players from the same team were drafted in the opening round and the first time since Oregon had three in 2020.
The Lynx took Diamond Miller of Maryland with the No. 2 pick, and the Wings drafted Maddy Siegrist of Villanova with the third pick. Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman, who was the WNBA’s first president, sat with Siegrist.
The Wings also drafted UConn guard Lou Lopez Senechal two picks later. She transferred to UConn after a stellar career at Fairfield.
“It feels surreal. Really didn’t think I’d be here,” Senechal said. “I’ve come a long way, gone through a lot of challenges.”
Stephanie Soares of Iowa State went fourth to the Washington Mystics, who traded her to the Wings soon after selecting the 6-foot-7 center. The Mystics got back future first- and second-round picks.
“It was a very interesting feeling,” Soares said. “Pure excitement going to Washington but now getting to go to Dallas. It’s going to be a great next step to the journey.”
Soares tore her ACL in January and will miss the upcoming WNBA season.
Stanford guard Haley Jones went sixth to the Dream. Indiana’s Grace Berger was drafted seventh by the Fever.
The Seattle Storm took Tennessee’s Jordan Horston ninth. The Wings chose Maryland’s Abby Meyers with the 11th pick. Meyers started her career at Princeton before finishing with the Terrapins.
The Lynx closed out the first round by taking French center Maïa Hirsch.
