The 2023 WNBA draft was a monumental moment for the South Carolina women’s basketball team, as five of their players were selected in the draft. South Carolina joins Tennessee (1999, 2008) and Notre Dame (2019) as the only schools to have five players selected in the same draft.
Aliyah Boston, Laeticia Amihere, Zia Cooke, Brea Beal, and Victaria Saxton were all drafted last night. Cooke was the third South Carolina player to be selected, chosen by the Los Angeles Sparks with the No. 10 overall pick.
Embed from Getty ImagesCooke averaged 15.4 points with a career-high 41% field goal percentage. Cooke won the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award as the best shooting guard and was named All-America third-team from the AP and USBWA.
She played a leading role in leading the Gamecocks to three consecutive Final Four appearances, including the title last season.
The Sparks finished second-to-last in the WNBA last season with a 13-23 record. They were also the team with the fewest 3-pointers in the league, making Cooke’s ability as a shooter a perfect fit for their needs.
