Aliyah Boston expected to be No. 1 pick in WNBA draft

NEW YORK (AP)— Aliyah Boston has been the consensus No. 1 pick in the WNBA draftall season.

The IndianaFever, who own the top choice, just had to wait for the SouthCarolina star to make it official she was going to enter thisyear’s draft. Boston had the chance to return to South Carolina forher COVID season, butopted to enterMondaynight’s draft instead.

“I thinkAliyah Boston is a legitimate first pick option,” Fever generalmanager Lin Dunn said on a conference call. “I’ve watched her playvery closely this year. Her size, her basketball IQ, her character,her leadership skills. She just brings an enormous amount to thetable, and I really think she’s going to have — whether she’spicked first, second or third, she’s going to have an immediateimpact on this league.”

Boston was athree-time All-America selection andearned AP Player of theYearhonors in 2022 as a junior. She, like many otherplayers, have had to choose whether to come back to college forafifth season or turn pro. Itcreated a buzz over the last few weeks whether a player would forgotheir extra year or return to school.

Players haduntil March 26 to declare their intentions if their season wasover. Those that were still playing in the NCAA Tournament had 48hours after their final game to decide.

“It does makeour world a little more complex,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbertsaid in a phone interview. “If I could have a fifth year, I wouldhave definitely played. There wasn’t a WNBA back then. They have aloyalty to college, loyalty to fans. I see why you might want to doit. I know narratives about pay. They are competitors, they haveloyalty to their schools. It has complicated our life a little bit,not knowing who’s going to come in.”

Engelbert didsay that she loves to call the players who are invited to thedraft, welcoming them to the WNBA.

“I will tellyou. I just got done with the favorite part of my job, callingthose prospects,” she said. “Someone texted me back, I’m cryingtears of joys.”

Engelbertcalled Boston and three of her South Carolina teammates this pastweek. All of whom are projected to be taken in the first tworounds. The Fever have a chance to draft a few of them as they alsohold the No. 7 and 13 picks. Other Gamecocks that have been invitedto New York for the draft include Zia Cooke, Brea Beal and LaeticiaAmihere.

Minnesota hasthe No. 2 pick and potentially could take Maryland wing DiamondMiller.

“Diamond hasthe physical gifts that I think we all look at and go, wow, she’slegit 6-foot-3, has some length, athleticism, real abilities,”Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve said. “But there’s a long road aheadfor her, too, in terms of wherever she goes, however high she goes.There’s not a guarantee of immediate success. There’s I think quitea bit for each of these prospects that they’re going to go through,as every year.”

Out of thefirst round, only Indiana, Minnesota and Seattle’s No. 9 pickbelong to the original team that held those draft spots. Dallas hasthree picks — No. 3, No. 5 and No. 11. The Wings lost in the firstround of the playoffs the last two seasons.

Other playersinvited to the draft include Grace Berger (Indiana), Jordan Horston(Tennessee), Ashley Joens (Iowa State), Haley Jones (Stanford),Dorka Juhasz and Lou Lopez Senechal (Connecticut), Taylor Mikesell(Ohio State), Alexis Morris (LSU), Maddy Siegrist (Villanova) andStephanie Soares (Iowa State). In all, 112 players have declaredfor the draft that is only three rounds and has 36 picks.