South Carolina women's basketball: WNBA Draft preview

South Carolina Women’s Basketball: News • Recruiting • Schedule • Roster • Stats • SEC • Polls • Scholarships

Four Gamecocks have been invited to Monday night’s WNBA Draft, where Aliyah Boston is expected to be the top pick.

Boston, Brea Beal, Laeticia Amihere, and Zia Cooke have all been invited to attend the draft. It’s a good sign that they are expected to be selected in the three-round draft, but no guarantee. 

Additionally, Kierra Fletcher and Victaria Saxton entered their name into the draft, but neither is expected to be picked. Senior Olivia Thompson did not opt into the draft.

Boston is likely to become the second #1 pick in Gamecock history, following A’ja Wilson in 2018. In all, 13 Gamecocks have been selected in the WNBA Draft, and nine during the Dawn Staley era. 

The WNBA  Draft begins at 7:00 ET on ESPN.

*Not all mock drafts go beyond the first round.

[Subscribe to Gamecock Central until Aug. 31 for only $29.99!]

Gamecocks in the draft:

Aliyah Boston – 6-5 Post, St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.

• Career averages: 14.1 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 2.4 bpg, 0.55 FG%, 0.76 FT%, 
• Senior season averages: 13.0 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 2.0 bpg, 0.56 FG%, 0.75 FT%
• Draft scout: The most decorated player in program history, Boston has seemingly been locked in as the top pick for two years now, and Indiana has been tanking for at least that long. Boston often faced double teams before she even got the ball in college and triple and quadruple teams after that. She won’t see that kind of defense in the WNBA and her numbers should take a big jump. Boston is an elite defender, rebounder, and shot blocker, and her three-point range, while a work in progress, is already there. She is one of the best prospects to enter the draft in some time.
• Mock Drafts: 1 – Indiana (ESPN); 1 – Indiana (SI); 1 – Indiana (CBS); 1 – Indiana (The Athletic); 1 – Indiana (Just Women’s Sports); 

Brea Beal – 6-2 Wing, Rock Island, Ill.

• Career averages: 6.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.6 apg, 0.8 bpg, 0.31 3FG%
• Senior season averages: 6.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.1 bpg, 0.38 3FG%
• Draft scout: For three seasons at South Carolina, the word on Beal was “if she could only fix her jump shot.” She finally fixed it her senior season and that sent her rising up mock drafts. Beal also showed she is a good passer, finishing second on the team in assists. At any level, there is always room for a player who can defend, pass, and knock down open shots.
• Mock Drafts: 7 – Indiana (ESPN); 7 – Indiana (SI); 7 – Indiana (CBS); 7 – Indiana (The Athletic); 

Laeticia Amihere – 6-4 Wing, Mississauga, Ontario

• Career averages: 6.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 1.0 apg, 1.0 bpg, 0.7 spg
• Senior season averages: 7.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.3 apg, 1.1 bpg, 0.8 spg
• Draft scout: Amihere has caught the eye of WNBA scouts with her length and athleticism. They feel like she will thrive in the WNBA’s more spaced-out game, where she can be more of a face-up player. Her production has never quite matched her potential, but when Amihere moved to the backcourt her senior season she seemed close to unlocking that potential. 
• Mock Drafts: 8 – Atlanta (ESPN); 8 – Atlanta (CBS); 9 – Seattle (The Athletic); 

Zia Cooke – 5-9 Guard, Toledo, Ohio

• Career averages: 13.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.9 apg, 0.38 FG%, 0.34 3FG%, 0.75 FT%
• Senior season averages: 15.4 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 1.9 apg, 0.41 FG%, 0.35 3FG%, 0.79 FT%
• Draft scout: 5-9 shooting guards with a streaky jump shot are a dime a dozen in the WNBA. Cooke has to prove what sets her apart, and she showed a lot of versatility during her senior season. Cooke played point guard for extended stretches and emerged as a strong defensive player, while also turning in some big scoring nights. She had a strong NCAA Tournament on both ends of the court, which improved her draft stock.
• Mock Drafts: 13 – Indiana (ESPN); 12 – Minnesota (CBS); 9 – Seattle (Just Women’s Sports); 

[Become a “FAM” Member, support USC women’s basketball]

Kierra Fletcher – 5-9 Guard, Warren, Michigan

• Career averages: 8.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.7 apg, 
• Senior season averages: 4.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.0 apg
• Draft scout: Fletcher’s best asset is her midrange game, something that you rarely see in the WNBA. She isn’t a good enough shooter or explosive enough off the dribble to score in the WNBA, although a team could take a flier on Fletcher as a defensive specialist.
• Mock Drafts: Fletcher does not appear in any mock drafts.

Victoria Saxton – 6-2 Forward, Rome, Georgia

• Career averages: 5.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.2 bpg
• Senior season averages: 4.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 0.6 bpg
• Draft scout: Saxton was already a tweener in college, and in the WNBA someone at her size needs to have a reliable jump shot out to the three-point line. Her reputation as a low-maintenance glue player might get Saxton a look, but more than likely she’ll head overseas to play.
• Mock Drafts: 27 – Phoenix (ESPN);

Discuss South Carolina women’s basketball on The Insiders Forum!