Aliyah Boston to Fever: Twitter Reacts as Forward Is No. 1 Pick in 2023 WNBA Draft

Featured Columnist IVApril 10, 2023

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 11: Aliyah Boston #4 of the South Carolina Gamecocks reacts during their game against the Liberty Lady Flames at Colonial Life Arena on December 11, 2022 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)

Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images

The Indiana Fever didn't spring any last-minute surprises as they selected South Carolina star Aliyah Boston with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 WNBA draft.

Indiana Fever ⛹️‍♀️🏀 @IndianaFever
NUMBER ONE. 🔥 welcome to Indiana, Aliyah Boston!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/sponsored?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#sponsored</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/AnthemBCBS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AnthemBCBS</a> <a href="https://t.co/ogCsfAhAlp">pic.twitter.com/ogCsfAhAlp</a>

WNBA @WNBA
With the 1st pick in the 2023 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WNBADraft?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WNBADraft</a>, the <a href="https://twitter.com/IndianaFever?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IndianaFever</a> select 2022 NPOY and 2x Naismith DPOY, <a href="https://twitter.com/aa_boston?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@aa_boston</a> of <a href="https://twitter.com/GamecockWBB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GamecockWBB</a> <a href="https://t.co/I4QrjKcrWo">pic.twitter.com/I4QrjKcrWo</a>

Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
Indiana selects Aliyah Boston with the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft🔥 Career averages for South Carolina 📈 14.1 PPG 10.8 RPG 1.7 APG <a href="https://t.co/YP6BEz5OwH">pic.twitter.com/YP6BEz5OwH</a>

Indiana Fever ⛹️‍♀️🏀 @IndianaFever
"She raised the standard of how to approach basketball." Aliyah Boston is coming to Indiana.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/sponsored?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#sponsored</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/AnthemBCBS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AnthemBCBS</a> <a href="https://t.co/Ocg87PY4TM">pic.twitter.com/Ocg87PY4TM</a>

Indiana Pacers @Pacers
welcome to the family, Aliyah Boston!❤️<a href="https://twitter.com/aa_boston?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@aa_boston</a> <a href="https://t.co/MDNe0PaB58">https://t.co/MDNe0PaB58</a>

The Fever have been devoid of a long-term direction following Tamika Catchings' retirement after the 2016 season. Winning the draft lottery for the first time in franchise history represented a golden opportunity to chart a coherent vision for the future.

Plenty of people on social media emphasized how big this moment could be:

James Kay @James_M_Kay
I was worried Fever fans wouldn't have been able to continue in life if Aliyah Boston went back to SC for a fifth year after they *finally* got the No. 1 pick. So excited to see Boston and NaLyssa Smith together. <a href="https://t.co/nieooup5tc">https://t.co/nieooup5tc</a>

whitney medworth @its_whitney
aliyah boston got a little standing ovation here at gainbridge when they announced the pick 🥹

i did not give elon money🖕🏻 @kyliesparks
INDIANA FEVER, YOU GET AN ALIYAH BOSTON

Dr. Bob Jobs @RappersRActors
Aliyah Boston gonna make Indiana watchable

Hayley McGoldrick @GoldieOnSports
social media managers with an aliyah boston graphic ready all very glad the annual "they drafted WHO?" moment of the WNBA draft did not happen for the first pick

Boston was universally viewed as the best player on the board. A three-time unanimous first-team All-American, she won a national championship with the Gamecocks and collected every major individual honor on offer in college.

The 6'5" forward averaged 14.1 points on 54.6 percent shooting along with 10.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocks.

The Fever's playoff drought could extend to seven years in 2023. The front office hasn't radically transformed a roster that won five games a season ago.

But Boston joins a promising squad that includes NaLyssa Smith, Queen Egbo, Lexie Hull, Emily Engstler and former South Carolina teammate Destanni Henderson. Kelsey Mitchell is coming off a career year in 2022 as well.

✨ Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content

Watching this team grow together should provide more fun than Fever fans have enjoyed for a long time.