The Indiana Fever made lots of the first No. 1 draft choices in franchise historical past, settling on Aliyah Boston.
The South Carolina famous person had a stellar faculty occupation, main the Gamecocks to a countrywide championship her junior 12 months and shedding most effective 9 video games overall. She used to be a three-time Associated Press All-American and likewise the Player of the Year as a junior.
“It’s really special, I’m thankful to God for putting me in this position,” stated the 21-year-old from Boston, from america 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 file within the league closing season, going 5–31.
“Aliyah Boston will have an immediate impact on our franchise on and off the court,” stated Fever GM Lin Dunn. ‘We are excited to pair her with Kelsey (Mitchell) and NaLyssa (Smith) as we reload the Indiana Fever. We are very inspired with Aliyah’s submit talents in addition to her herbal management talents. This aa nice day for our franchise!”
Boston, like many different gamers, has had to select whether or not to go back to school for a 5th season as a result of the additional 12 months granted for the Covid-19 virus or flip professional. She determined to go into the WNBA draft, becoming a member of 111 different gamers to claim.
“Everyone that has a Covid year has a tough choice,” Boston stated. “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 Atlanta and Zia Cooke 10th to Los Angeles.
“It’s amazing experience really, because this group of girls have been through life together,” stated Amihere. “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 that three players from the same team were drafted in the opening round, and the first since Oregon had three in 2020.
Minnesota took Diamond Miller of Maryland with the No. 2 pick, and Dallas 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 had transferred to UConn after a stellar career at Fairfield.
“It feels surreal, really didn’t think I’d be here,” Senechal stated. “I’ve come a long way, gone through a lot of challenges.”
Stephanie Soares of Iowa State went fourth to Washington. The Mystics temporarily traded her to Dallas quickly after settling on the 6ft 7in heart. Washington were given again a long run first- and second-round pick out.
“It was a very interesting feeling,” Soares stated. “Pure pleasure going to Washington, however now getting to visit Dallas. It’s going to be a really perfect subsequent step to the adventure.”
Soares tore her ACL in January and will miss the upcoming WNBA season.
Stanford guard Haley Jones went sixth to Atlanta. Indiana’s Grace Berger was drafted seventh by the Fever.
Seattle took Tennessee’s Jordan Horston ninth. Dallas chose Maryland’s Abby Meyers with the 11th pick. Meyers began her career at Princeton before finishing with the Terrapins.
Minnesota closed out the primary around taking French heart Maia Hirsch.