2023 WNBA Draft: Gamecock centerpiece Aliyah Boston drafted first overall

In the least surprising news of the night, South Carolina basketball’s Aliyah Boston was selected first overall in the 2023 WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever. Boston is reunited with former Gamecock teammate and fellow national champion Destanni Henderson.

Boston’s college accomplishments are numerous. The 2021-2022 Naismith National Player of the Year, Boston also won the National Defensive Player of the Year award her junior and senior seasons, was a four-time winner of the SEC Defensive Player of the Year award, was one of just ten players ever to make first-team All-American teams three straight seasons, and one of five players ever to make four-straight All-American squads (she was a second-team performer as a freshman).

Boston is South Carolina’s all-time leading rebounds and is second in program history in blocked shots. She has more double-doubles than any other Gamecock, and she is the best defensive player in Carolina history (and maybe the best defensive player in college basketball history).

What’s even more incredible about Aliyah Boston’s game is that she can be even better at the next level. The USC system somewhat limited what she could do offensively, and the margin of victory her team usually won by would often keep her off the court late in blowouts. She has displayed some ballhandling ability and playmaking acumen that she will be able to demonstrate in a more spacious professional game. She also has good shooting touch that can also be unlocked. WNBA rules limit double-teams, so Boston will have more room to operate than she’s ever had.

Inarguably one of the top-2 players in program history along with A’Ja Wilson, Boston is the leader of the best recruiting class to ever come through the school and one of the best ever from any school.

The 2019 class at South Carolina went 129-9 (with just one loss at home at Colonial Life Arena), they were ranked inside the top-10 their entire careers, they made 3 Final Fours (there were only 3 NCAA Tournaments because of the 2020 Covid pandemic), they won 3 SEC Tournament Championships and 3 regular season SEC Championships, and they won a national title. They also won 42 games in a row, a number only beaten by two other programs in history.

Gamecock fans everywhere are excited to see one of college basketball’s best players and best people continue her career. Boston’s first game with the Indiana Fever will be against the Connecticut Sun on May 19th. She will play against former Gamecock teammates and current players for the Sun Ty Harris and Kiki Herbert-Harrigan.