Aliyah Boston heads to Indiana Fever as the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA Draft

Aliyah Boston was the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft on Monday night, going into the Indiana Fever.

It is the first time that the Fever has the top choice in the design and they chose the South Carolina star. Boston, a three-time Associated Press All-American who was also Player of the Year as a junior, will solidify the post for Indiana.

“It’s very special, I’m thankful to God for putting me in this position,” said 21-year-old Boston, of the US Virgin Islands.

“Everyone in Indiana saw something in me. I’m ready to get there and get to work.”

The Fever had the worst record in the league last season, going 5-31.

“Aliyah Boston will have an immediate impact on our franchise on and off the field,” said Fever GM Lin Dunn.

Boston was the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft on Monday night, going into the Indiana Fever

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“We are excited to pair her with Kelsey (Mitchell) and NaLyssa (Smith) as we reload the Indiana Fever. We are very impressed with Aliyah’s mailing skills and her natural leadership skills. This is a great day for our franchise!’

Boston, like many other players, has had to choose whether to return to college for a fifth season due to the extra year granted for the COVID-19 virus or to turn pro. She decided to enter the draft and joined 111 other players to sign up.

She was joined by three South Carolina teammates, who were expected to be accepted in the first two rounds of the draft. The Gamecocks were undefeated until they lost to Iowa in the Final Four.

Minnesota drafted Maryland’s Diamond Miller with the No. 2 pick, and Dallas drafted Villanova’s Maddy Siegrist with the third pick.

Big East commissioner Val Ackerman, the first president of the WNBA, sat with Siegrist.

The Wings also drafted UConn guard Lou Lopez Senechal two picks later. She had transferred to UConn after a great career at Fairfield.

“It feels surreal, I really didn’t think I would be here,” said Senechal. “I’ve come a long way, been through a lot of challenges.”

Iowa State’s Stephanie Soares took fourth to Washington. The Mystics quickly traded her to Dallas after selecting the six-foot center. Washington was returned a future pick from the first and second rounds.

South Carolina had three players in the top-10 of this year’s WNBA Draft

“It was a very interesting feeling,” Soares said. “Sheer excitement to go to Washington, but now to go to Dallas. It will be a great next step in the journey.”

Soares tore her ACL in January and will miss the upcoming WNBA season.

Stanford guard Haley Jones took sixth and South Carolina’s Laeticia Amihere eighth to Atlanta. Indiana’s Grace Berger was summoned between them by the Fever.

Seattle grabbed Tennessee’s Jordan Horston in ninth and South Carolina’s Zia Cooke was taken by the Los Angeles Sparks.