The Fever kicked off Monday’s WNBA draft as basically everyone suspected, selecting South Carolina star Aliyah Boston with the first pick. After that, however, in true draft fashion, there were surprise selections and viral moments aplenty. Now that the dust has settled and 36 draftees have heard their names called, a clearer picture of the night has come into view with apparent winners and some unlucky losers.
Winners
Indiana Fever
It’s hard not to label the Fever as a clear winner of this year’s draft after the team selected a generational talent in Boston with the night’s first pick. The reigning Naismith Defensive Player of the Year can transform Indiana, soon if not immediately, into a playoff contender as the franchise’s first No. 1 pick. In addition to the South Carolina center, the Fever also brought on home-state hero Grace Berger of Indiana University. Second- and third-round additions Ohio State’s Taylor Mikesell, LSU’s LaDazhia Williams and South Carolina’s Victaria Saxton all have the ability to challenge for roster spots as well on this young and hungry team.
Minnesota Lynx
Scooping up Diamond Miller as the No. 2 pick was a great start for Minnesota, and the Lynx also managed to acquire steals in the later rounds for a fruitful 2023 draft. The Maryland star has the potential to spur Minnesota’s comeback in the post–Sylvia Fowles era alongside the likes of franchise player Napheesa Collier. Along with Dorka Juhász of UConn and France’s Maïa Hirsch, the Lynx also got the steal of the draft at No. 24, with Gamecocks starter Brea Beal, who many projected as a top-10 pick. If she can further develop her outside shot, it’s likely she’ll earn a roster spot come the regular season, with Beal as a strong defensive player that coach and president of basketball operations Cheryl Reeve could help mold and develop into a standout.
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South Carolina and Dawn Staley
A whopping five Gamecocks were drafted Monday night, with Boston at No. 1 and Laeticia Amihere and Zia Cooke also taken off the board in the first round by the Dream and the Sparks, respectively. Beal, who surprised many by falling to late in the second round, and Saxton also heard their names called, by Minnesota and Indiana, capping off a stellar night for coach Dawn Staley, who was in attendance at Spring Studios. “Where they do that at?” Staley asked in a video posted to South Carolina women’s basketball Twitter account. “You know where they do that at, South Carolina Gamecocks.” The South Carolina ascendancy was quite fitting, marking the next chapter for one of the most dominant recruiting classes in women’s college basketball history.
Dawn Staley's reaction when Zia Cooke got drafted ❤️🙌 pic.twitter.com/dHMqjCEaZ6
— espnW (@espnW) April 11, 2023
Fashion
This year’s draftees didn’t come to play with their fits, lighting up the WNBA’s orange carpet. Maybe it’s the NIL money (as Aces star A’ja Wilson speculated), but it seems like the styles are elevated every year. Cooke, who donned a sleek black dress with detailed crystal, stole the show, adding an exclamation mark to a thrilling night for the Gamecocks guard.
"I put my life into this."
— espnW (@espnW) April 11, 2023
Zia Cooke was overcome with emotion after being drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks 🥹 pic.twitter.com/fLrcel1Ga1
Losers
Supporters of expansion
In her remarks ahead of the draft, commissioner Cathy Engelbert did not provide a concrete timeline for WNBA expansion, nor did she support the enlargement of individual rosters, instead saying, “I’d love to bring in at least two teams over the next few years, in the longer term four.” Engelbert added she has been visiting potential markets, including Portland and Toronto, and plans “to continue to visit a few more markets in the coming months ... with potential ownership groups that have shown interest.” League insiders have been pushing the WNBA to expand for years now, with many feeling the growing talent pool has eclipsed the W’s 144 maximum roster spots. With a large group of college athletes taking advantage of their extra year of eligibility for COVID-19, a tidal wave of pro-ready players will soon enter the WNBA, making expansion a pressing issue.
Dallas Wings’ training camp
The Wings exited Monday night with six new additions, trading a future second-round and a first-round pick to the Mystics in exchange for Iowa State’s Stephanie Soares. Dallas also attained Villanova’s Maddy Siegrist with its third pick, Lou Lopez Sénéchal of UConn with its fifth selection and Maryland’s Abby Meyers late in the round for a total of four first-rounders.
Ashley Joens of Iowa State represents a strong second-round steal, while Paige Robinson of Illinois State rounded out the Wings’ draft class. Dallas needed additional firepower, and now it has it—and then some, adding Siegrist, who averaged 29.2 points per game this season. With 18 players on the roster and only 12 spots available, though, things are looking a bit crowded. Soares won’t be able to play this summer, as she is out with an ACL tear, but the rest of the draftees will have to compete with free-agency additions Diamond DeShields and Natasha Howard on a lineup that already features Arike Ogunbowale. There simply isn’t enough space for all the new talent, making some of the Wings’ draft-night decisions—that saw players with similar attributes being selected—all the more confounding.
Haley Jones (missing a call from Coach)
Missing a call from your boss? Not the way you want to start a new gig. Jones did just that, failing to pick up the phone for Dream coach Tanisha Wright after Atlanta selected the Stanford star with the team’s No. 6 pick. “Hey Girl!!,” Wright tweeted. “Just trying to reach ya to congratulate ya on coming to the A!” When a reporter alerted Jones to Wright’s message, she quickly apologized for the mishap. “Well, Coach, if you’re listening, or you’re gonna see this interview, I’m so sorry. I literally got called, didn’t even think to grab my phone. … So, when I get to my phone, I’ll call her back immediately. That is, like, the worst first impression to have, missing a call from your new boss,” said Jones. At least she’s in good company, with WNBA Rookie of the Year Rhyne Howard admitting that she didn’t call back Wright “til the after party” following last year’s draft.
