When WNBA boss Cathy Engelbert took to the podium to announce the first pick held by the Indiana Fever, there wasn’t too much suspense. To tell the truth, we were sure of the name that would come out at 99.9%, and it is logically, Aliyah Boston which was selected as number 1.
Dominant on both sides of the floor at the interior position, she is announced as a generational talent. In four seasons in South Carolina, she has established herself as one of the best prospects in the country with an average of 14.1 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.4 blocks at 54.6% shooting. A true double-double machine, she led the program to a 129-9 record to claim the NCAA title in 2022. She was also named 2022 College Player of the Year, and twice defender (2022,2023).
The Indiana Fever now has in Aliyah Boston a gem to polish for years to come. Future years that should look much better than the previous ones. As a reminder, the franchise ended last season with a record of only 5 wins for 31 losses! Worse still, the Fever has not tasted the playoffs since 2016, the year of the retirement of its legend Tamika Catchings.
For choices 2 and 3, no surprise either. As expected, Diamond Miller, which sent Maryland to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2015, was picked second by the Minnesota Lynx. In third place, Maddy Siegrist, the NCAA’s season leading scorer with an average of 29.2 points, was selected by the Dallas Wings. She is also the top scorer in Villanova history.
In 4th position, the Mystics selected Stephanie Soares, yet victim of a rupture of the cruciate ligaments in January. She should miss the whole season. As a result, she was immediately traded to the Dallas Wings.
Lou Lopez-Sénéchal, 5th choice
This is the beautiful story of the evening. Expected rather at the end of the first round, the French Lou Lopez-Senechal was picked 5th overall by the Dallas Wings. Totally unknown to the general public a year ago, she completely exploded under the colors of UConn this season.
After four seasons spent in the modest college of Fairfield, Lou Lopez-Senechal had like all the other academics an optional extra season offered by the NCAA because of the Covid-19 pandemic. She decided to activate this option, but wanted to take up a new challenge. She was therefore transferred last summer to the most successful program in the country: UConn. A program that has seen many WNBA legends such as Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore and Breanna Stewart.
Arrived to occupy a minor role, she finally integrated the starting five thanks to her very good performances, but also to the cascades of injuries which hit the Huskies this season. Under the leadership of Geno Auriemma, she totally exploded with an average of 15.5 points per game at 44% from 3-point range! A season as surprising as it was unexpected, which propelled the player to the Draft, while a year ago she was mostly unknown to the battalion.
Three French women in the Draft, a record!
Other French, Maia Hirsch is selected 12th by the Minnesota Lynx. Aged just 19, and a big fan of Candice Parker, the player from Villeneuve d’Ascq is already jumping into the deep end, and this is the first time that France has placed two players so high in the Draft!
There is even a 3rd French one since Kadi Sissoko, released from the Federal Center in 2017, was selected in the 3rd round in 29th position by Brittney Griner’s Phoenix Mercury. Passed by Basket Landes, Sissoko played at USC this season, after playing at Syracuse and Minnesota in previous years.
This is the first time that we find three French women in a Draft. In 2021, they were two with Iliana Rupert and Marine Fauthoux.
2023 WNBA Draft
- Aliyah Boston: Indiana Fever
- Diamond Miller: Minnesota Lynx
- Maddy Siegrist: Dallas Wings
- Stephanie Soares: Washington Mystics then traded to the Dallas Wings
- Lou Lopez-Senechal : Dallas Wings
- Haley Jones: Atlanta Dream
- Grace Berger: Indiana Fever
- Laeticia Amihere: Atlanta Dream
- Jordan Horston: Seattle Storm
- Zia Cooke: Los Angeles Sparks
- Abby MeyersDallas Wings
- Maia Hirsch : Minnesota Lynx
2nd round
- Taylor Mikesell: Indiana Fever
- Shaneice Swain: Los Angeles Sparks
- Leigha Brown: Atlanta Dream
- Dorka Juhasz: Minnesota Lynx
- LaDazhia Williams: Indiana Fever
- Madi Williams: Seattle Storm
- Ashley JoensDallas Wings
- Elena Tsineke: Washington Mystics
- Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu: Seattle Storm
- Alexis Morris: Connecticut Sun
- Kayana TraylorChicago Sky
- Brea Beal: Minnesota Lynx
3rd round
- Victaria SaxtonIndiana Fever
- Monika Czinano: Los Angeles Sparks
- Destiny Harden: Phoenix Mercury
- Taylor Soule: Minnesota Lynx
- Kadi Sissoko :Phoenix Mercury
- Okako Adika: New York Liberty
- Paige RobinsonDallas Wings
- Txell Alarcon: Washington Mystics
- Jade Loville: Seattle Storm
- Ashten Prechtel: Connecticut Sun
- Kseniya Malashka: Chicago Sky
- Brittany Davis: Las Vegas Aces
