Atlanta Dream select Canada’s Laeticia Amihere 8th overall in 2023 WNBA Draft | CBC Sports

Canada’s Laeticia Amihere was selected eighth overall by the Atlanta Dream in the first round of the 2023 WNBA Draft on Monday night in New York.

The 21-year-old forward declared for the draft on Tuesday after completing her fourth season with the University of South Carolina, winning a national championship in 2022.

WATCH | Amihere selected by Dream:

Canada’s Laeticia Amihere selected 8th overall by WNBA’s Atlanta Dream

The native of Mississauga, Ontario, played her college ball at South Carolina and is a member of the Canadian national team.

The Mississauga, Ont., native averaged 15.9 minutes across 36 games this season, recording per-game averages of 7.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks.

The Dream also selected guard Haley Jones out of Stanford with the No. 6 pick.

WATCH | Amihere prepares for draft:

My Story: Laeticia Amihere

Amihere’s viral dunk at 15 drew global attention, but she has since become a vital player for Canada in basketball, with a range of impressive skills.

Amihere was one of three South Carolina players taken in the first round. Aliyah Boston went first to Atlanta and Zia Cooke 10th to Los Angeles.

“It’s amazing experience really, because this group of girls have been through life together,” Amihere said. “These four years haven’t been only about basketball. Being able to be with them on one of our biggest nights is an amazing experience.”

It’s the 10th time that three players from the same team were drafted in the opening round, and the first since Oregon had three in 2020.

Boston goes No. 1

The new Indiana star Boston had a stellar college career, leading the Gamecocks to a national championship her junior year and losing only nine games total. She was a three-time Associated Press All-American and also the Player of the Year as a junior.

“It’s really special, I’m thankful to God for putting me in this position,” said the 21-year-old Boston, from the U.S. Virgin Islands. “Everyone in Indiana, they saw something in me, I’m ready to get there and get to work.”

“Aliyah Boston will have an immediate impact on our franchise on and off the court,” Fever GM Lin Dunn said. ‘We are excited to pair her with Kelsey [Mitchell] and NaLyssa [Smith] as we reload the Indiana Fever. We are very impressed with Aliyah’s post skills as well as her natural leadership skills. This a a great day for our franchise!”

Boston, like many other players, have had to choose whether to return to college for a fifth season because of the extra year granted for the COVID-19 virus or turn pro. She decided to enter the WNBA draft, joining 111 other players to declare.

“Everyone that has a COVID year has a tough choice,” Boston said. “You could be somewhere you know the system. … It took a lot of thought.”

Minnesota took Diamond Miller of Maryland with the No. 2 pick, and Dallas drafted Maddy Siegrist of Villanova with the third pick. Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman, who was the WNBA’s first president, sat with Siegrist.

The Wings also drafted UConn guard Lou Lopez Senechal two picks later. She had transferred to UConn after a stellar career at Fairfield.

“It feels surreal, really didn’t think I’d be here,” Senechal said. “I’ve come a long way, gone through a lot of challenges.”

“It was a very interesting feeling,” Soares said. “Pure excitement going to Washington, but now getting to go to Dallas. It’s going to be a great next step to the journey.”

Soares tore her ACL in January and will miss the upcoming WNBA season.

Indiana’s Grace Berger was drafted seventh by the Fever and Seattle took Tennessee’s Jordan Horston ninth.

Dallas chose Maryland’s Abby Meyers with the 11th pick. Meyers started her career at Princeton before finishing with the Terrapins.

Minnesota closed out the first round taking French centre Maia Hirsch.