Gamecocks in the WNBA: 2023 season preview

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The 2023 WNBA season begins Friday night. Eight Gamecocks are on opening day rosters, the third-most of any program. That includes reigning MVP A’ja Wilson, #1 draft pick Aliyah Boston, and OG Tiffany Mitchell.

Atlanta Dream

Laeticia Amihere (R)

Allisha Gray

Gray gets a fresh start in Atlanta as the savvy veteran on an otherwise young and upcoming team. Amihere is part of that young core that also includes rookie Haley Jones and last season’s rookie of the year Rhyne Howard. Atlanta has really leaned into versatile wings who can play multiple positions.

Upcoming games:

Saturday, May 20 at Dallas (1:00 ET, ABC)

Tuesday, May 23 at Minnesota (8:00 ET, Twitter)

Sunday, May 28 vs Indiana (3:00 ET, NBA TV)

Connecticut Sun

Tyasha Harris

Not only did Harris finally get out of Dallas, where she clearly wasn’t wanted, but Connecticut signed her to an extension earlier this week. It’s a nice change of scenery for Harris.

Upcoming games:

Friday, May 19 at Indiana (7:00 ET, League Pass)

Sunday, May 21 vs Washington (1:00 ET, League Pass)

Tuesday, May 23 at Washington (7:00 ET, League Pass)

Saturday, May 27 at New York (1:00 ET, CBS)

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Indiana Fever

Aliyah Boston (R)

Victaria Saxton (R)

Not surprisingly, Boston had an impressive preseason and looked like a franchise centerpiece. Surprisingly, third-round pick Saxton was extremely impressive in the preseason and made the opening-day roster. Third-round picks are usually little more than training camp fodder, but Saxton did enough to stick.

Upcoming games:

Friday, May 19 vs Connecticut (7:00 ET, League Pass)

Sunday, May 21 at New York (2:00 ET, Twitter)

Sunday, May 28 at Atlanta (3:00 ET, NBA TV)

Las Vegas Aces

A’ja Wilson

Wilson won her second MVP award last season and led the Aces to their first WNBA championship. The Aces and Liberty are the favorites to win it all this season. 

Upcoming games:

Saturday, May 20 at Seattle (3:00 ET, ABC)

Thursday, May 25 at Los Angeles (10:00 ET, CBS Sports Network)

Saturday, May 27 vs Los Angeles (9:00 ET, League Pass)

Sunday, May 28 vs Minnesota (9:00 ET, CBS Sports Network)

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Los Angeles Sparks

Zia Cooke (R)

LA needed a playmaking guard and Cooke looked like the answer in the preseason. She has a big stage for her first game Friday night on ESPN, when the Sparks host the Mercury for Brittney Griner’s return to the court. 

Upcoming games:

Friday, May 19 vs Phoenix (11:00 ET, ESPN)

Thursday, May 25 vs Las Vegas (10:00 ET, CBS Sports Network)

Saturday, May 27 at Las Vegas (9:00 ET, League Pass)

Minnesota Lynx

Tiffany Mitchell

In the preseason Mitchell looked rejuvenated. Leaving the dysfunctional Fever will do that.

Upcoming games:

Friday, May 19 vs Chicago (8:00 ET, League Pass)

Tuesday, May 23 vs Atlanta (8:00 ET, Twitter)

Thursday, May 25 at Phoenix (10:00 ET, Amazon Prime Video)

Sunday, May 28 at Las Vegas (9:00 ET, CBS Sports Network)

Other players:

Mikiah Herbert Harrigan (Connecticut) and Alaina Coates (Atlanta) signed training camp contracts, but both were waived during the first week of camp.

Destanni Henderson was waived by Indiana on Tuesday. It was a surprising move – Henderson was heavily promoted by the Fever and had been Indiana’s best point guard. Henderson seems like a good candidate to be picked up by another team once the season begins.

Also on Tuesday, Brea Beal was cut by Minnesota. Beal had played sparingly in the preseason.

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