Fever select Aliyah Boston first overall in WNBA draft

South Carolina forward Aliyah Boston was selected by the Indiana Fever with the No. 1 overall selection of the 2023 WNBA Draft on Monday night in New York.

Boston, a three-time All-American, will be expected to provide an immediate lift to a franchise that went 5-31 last season to miss the playoffs for the sixth straight season. This was the first time the Fever held the No. 1 overall draft pick.

"I'm just going to continue to be who I am, to continue to be that dominant person, be a leader on the court," Boston said on ESPN. "I'm just excited."

The 6-foot-5 Boston was the consensus National Player of the Year for the 2021-22 season. She also was the national Defensive Player of the Year in each of the past two seasons.

Boston averaged 14.1 points, 10.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocked shots in 138 career games for the Gamecocks. She helped South Carolina win the national championship in 2022.

Boston is the second South Carolina player to be the No. 1 overall pick. The first was Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson in 2018.