2023 WNBA Draft results: Aliyah Boston goes No. 1 to Fever; grades, analysis for every pick
The 2023 WNBA Draft was Monday night in New York City
The 2023 WNBA Draft got underway as expected with the Indiana Fever selecting Aliyah Boston out of South Carolina as the No. 1 overall pick. A few hours later, the action came to a close when the Las Vegas Aces picked Brittany Davis from Alabama with the No. 36 overall selection.
In between, there was plenty of excitement and a few surprises. The Dallas Wings, who already had three first-round picks, sent a future first-round pick and a future second-round pick to the Washington Mystics to add the No. 4 overall selection to their collection. With those choices they added Maddy Siegrist (3rd), Stephanie Soares (4th), Lou Lopez Senechal (5th) and Abby Meyers (11th).
Other notable picks include the Minnesota Lynx taking Diamond Miller at No. 2 and the Atlanta Dream getting Haley Jones at No. 6. Here's a look at the full draft results:
Draft results - Round 1
Pick | Team | Player | Position | College |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Indiana Fever | Aliyah Boston | Center | South Carolina |
2 | Minnesota Lynx | Diamond Miller | Guard | Maryland |
3 | Dallas Wings | Maddy Siegrist | Guard | Villanova |
4 | Dallas Wings (Via Washington Mystics) | Stephanie Soares | Center | Iowa State |
5 | Dallas Wings | Lou Lopez Senechal | Guard | UConn |
6 | Atlanta Dream | Haley Jones | Guard/Forward | Stanford |
7 | Indiana Fever | Grace Berger | Guard | Indiana |
8 | Atlanta Dream | Laeticia Amihere | Center | South Carolina |
9 | Seattle Storm | Jordan Horston | Guard/Forward | Tennessee |
10 | Los Angeles Sparks | Zia Cooke | Guard | South Carolina |
11 | Dallas Wings | Abby Meyers | Guard | Maryland |
12 | Minnesota Lynx | Maia Hirsch | Forward | France |
Draft results - Round 2
13. Fever - Taylor Mikesell, Guard, Ohio State
14. Sparks - Shaneice Swain, Guard, Australia
15. Dream - Leigha Brown, Guard, Michigan
16. Lynx - Dorka Juhasz, Center, UConn
17. Fever - LaDazhia Williams, Forward, LSU
18. Storm - Madi Williams, Guard, Oklahoma
19. Wings - Ashley Joens, Forward, Iowa State
20. Mystics - Elena Tsineke, Guard, South Florida
21. Storm - Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu, Forward, South Florida
22. Sun - Alexis Morris, Guard, LSU
23. Sky - Kayana Traylor, Guard, Virginia Tech
24. Lynx - Brea Beal, Forward, South Carolina
Draft results - Round 3
25. Fever - Victaria Saxton, Forward, South Carolina
26. Sparks - Monika Czinano, Forward, Iowa
27. Mercury - Destiny, Harden, Guard, Miami
28. Lynx - Taylor Soule, Guard, Virginia Tech
29. Mercury - Kadi Sissoko, Forward, USC
30. Liberty - Okako Askia, Forward, USC
31. Wings - Paige Robinson, Center, Illinois State
32. Mystics - Txell Alarcon, Guard, Spain
33. Storm - Jade Loville, Guard, Arizona
34. Sun - Ashten Prechtel, Center, Stanford
35. Sky - Kseniya Malashka, Forward, Middle Tennessee
36. Aces - Brittany Davis, Guard, Alabama
Full third round results
No 25. Indiana Fever -- Victaria Saxton (F, South Carolina)
No. 26. Los Angeles Sparks -- Monika Czinano (F, Iowa)
No. 27. Phoenix Mercury -- Destiny, Harden (G, Miami)
No. 28. Minnesota Lynx -- Taylor Soule (G, Virginia Tech)
No. 29. Phoenix Mercury -- Kadi Sissoko (F, USC)
No. 30. New York Liberty -- Okako Askia (F, USC)
No. 31. Dallas Wings -- Paige Robinson (C, Illinois State)
No. 32. Washington Mystics -- Txell Alarcon (G, Spain)
No. 33. Seattle Storm -- Jade Loville (G, Arizona)
No. 34. Connecicut Sun -- Ashten Prechtel (C, Stanford)
No. 35. Chicago Sky -- Kseniya Malashka (G, Middle Tennessee)
No. 36. Las Vegas Aces -- Brittany Davis (G, Alabama)
Full second round results
No. 13: Indiana Fever -- Taylor Mikesell (G, Ohio State)
No. 14: Los Angeles Sparks -- Shaneice Swain (G, Australia)
No. 15: Atlanta Dream -- Leigha Brown (G, Michigan)
No. 16: Minnesota Lynx -- Dorka Juhasz (F, UConn)
No. 17: Indiana Fever -- LaDazhia Williams (F, LSU)
No. 18: Seattle Storm -- Madi Williams (F, Oklahoma)
No. 19: Dallas Wings -- Ashley Joens (F, Iowa State)
No. 20: Washington Mystics -- Elena Tsineke (G, USF)
No. 21: Seattle Storm -- Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu (F, USF)
No. 22: Connecticut Sun -- Alexis Morris (G, LSU)
No. 23: Chicago Sky -- Kayana Traylor (G, Virginia Tech)
No. 24: Minnesota Lynx -- Brea Beal (G, South Carolina)
No. 12 overall pick
Minnesota Lynx: Maia Hirsch (C, France)
The Lynx need a new center after Sylvia Fowles retired and hope that Hirsch can one day fill those shoes. When that will be remains to be seen, however, as the 19-year-old is not expected to come over to the states this season. She's an exciting prospect with a high defensive ceiling.
Grade: B
No. 11 overall pick
Dallas Wings: Abby Meyers (Guard, Maryland)
The Wings were serious about improving their wing scoring and shooting. Their final first-round pick was a surprise as they went with Abby Meyers out of Maryland. The 6-foot wing shot 38.8 percent from 3-point land in her first season with the Terrapins after transferring from Princeton and is coming off a strong showing in the NCAA Tournament.
Grade: C
No. 10 overall pick
Los Angeles Sparks: Zia Cooke (G, South Carolina)
The third member of the Gamecock's historic 2018 recruiting class is off the board. Los Angeles needed some backcourt depth and went with Cooke, who made two NCAA All-Tournament teams and is coming off the most impressive and efficient offensive season of her collegiate career. If the improved 3-point shot she flashed as a senior carries over to the pros, she'll be a good fit for the Sparks.
Grade: B
No. 9 overall pick
Seattle Storm: Jordan Horston (G, Tenneesse)
Horston falling all the way to No. 9 was a bit surprising, but the Storm won't be complaining as they get by far the best prospect on the board. At 6-foot-2, Horston has great size and athleticism on the wing, defends and is an underrated playmaker. She'll need to continue refining her game, but she has a ton of potential. Great addition for the Storm as they try to rebuild post-Breanna Stewart and Sue Bird.
Grade: A
No. 8 overall pick
Atlanta Dream: Laeticia Amihere (F, South Carolina)
After taking Haley Jones at No. 6, the Dream add another athletic, versatile wing in Laeticia Amihere. The 6-foot-4 forward didn't put up big stats at South Carolina, but she was able to adapt to whatever role head coach Dawn Staley asked her to fill. That ability, combined with her length and athleticism on the wing makes her an exciting prospect with all sorts of upside.
Grade: A-
No. 7 overall pick
Indiana Fever: Grace Berger (G, Indiana)
The Indiana Hoosier star stays in state at No. 7 to the Fever. Berger isn't much of an outside threat, but she's a tough, efficient, versatile guard with good size at 6-feet tall. She may not have the upside of some other players, but she should be a reliable contributor right away. Solid pick-up for the Fever.
Grade: B
No. 6 overall pick
Atlanta Dream: Haley Jones (G/F, Stanford)
Jones ended up slipping out of the lottery because she never developed an outside shot, but she does just about everything else well. She'll be able to guard multiple positions and thrives as a playmaker, especially in transition, which should make her a good fit in Atlanta. There are some questions about how she'll fare without being willing or able to shoot, but at this point in the draft it's a no-brainer for the Dream.
Grade: A
No. 5 overall pick
Dallas Wings: Lou Lopez Senechal (F, UConn)
Lopez Senechal transferred from Fairfield to UConn prior to last season and proved the step up in competition was no problem. She is the best outside shooter in the draft, making 44 percent of her attempts from behind the arc for the Huskies. It's a bit of a surprise that she went No. 5, but the Wings wanted to target shooting and they got it in Senechal.
Grade: B