2023 WNBA Draft review

Sistas dominated the 2023 WNBA Draft as seven Black females were chosen in each of the three rounds. As expected, South Carolina’s Aliyah Boston was the overall top pick by Indiana in Monday’s draft.  Also as expected, Diamond Miller of Maryland was chosen by Minnesota as the second overall pick. Miller was one of four Blacks chosen by the Lynx—Maia Hirsch (12^th), Brea Beal (24^th) and Taylor Soule (28^th) were the others.

Hirsch, a 19-year-old from France, is not expected to play in the league this season and is a long-term project for the team, Minnesota Lynx Head Coach Cheryl Reeve told reporters, including the MSR, during a post-draft media call on Monday night. The other draftees, including Dorka Juhasz—who mock drafts had going to Minnesota at No. 12 rather than at No. 16—are all expected to report to training camp later this month.

When reminded that making a WNBA roster is perhaps the hardest in pro sports to do, Reeve told the MSR, “We are incredibly open-minded about what is on our roster. I think all of the prospects feel really good about coming to the Minnesota Lynx training camp because they will be given an absolute very good look and chance to be on our team.”

Following are the post-draft reactions from some of the sista draftees:

Aliyah Boston, No. 1, Indiana— “I’ve always wanted to be a professional basketball player and I just felt like this moment was right.

Diamond Miller, No. 2, Minnesota — “I can do multiple things. I feel like I’m a three-level scorer and I also can play on both sides of the court. My expectations are just to be Diamond Miller every time I step on the court and to continue to be passionate and love the game the way I always did when I was a little kid.”

Brea Beal, No. 24, Minnesota — “It definitely shows the hard work that I’ve put in. Just to see that the Minnesota Lynx was able to see that, it’s a blessing to be there.

Zia Cooke, No. 10, Los Angeles — “I know that hard work won’t be a problem for me.  What it’ll be for me is to just make sure I’m asking questions and taking pride in it.”

Laeticia Amihere, No. 8, Atlanta — “I’ve been winning for most of my life.  I want to bring that winning culture to Atlanta.”

Haley Jones, No. 6, Atlanta — “I think I can impact the team in different ways. Yeah, I’m really excited. I feel like it’s something that I’ve worked for all my life.  Just to get my name called sixth is amazing.”

Before the draft, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert spoke to reporters on-site as well on Zoom.  When asked to share her pre-draft feelings, she told the MSR, “I remember the first time I did it was in my living room with my two children as my stagehands.  Literally, we were steaming the jerseys in my dryer right before because they came all wrinkled in a box.

“This night is unique because it’s a new chapter in all of the lives of these 36 players who will be drafted tonight. Definitely excited as you can tell in my voice,” she concluded.