WNBA DRAFT

April 10, 2023

Aliyah Boston

Indiana Fever

Q. What does it mean to be drafted first? And also, I think you're the first No. 1 pick in Indiana history.

ALIYAH BOSTON: I mean, it's just really special. I'm thankful, first, to God just for putting me in this position but also thankful to everybody in Indiana, just because they saw something in me and I'm just ready to get there and get to work.

Q. I'm curious what your conversations if any have been with Lin Dunn. Obviously, you bring a two-way play to this game but, in particular, your defensive prowess was above and beyond and something that Indiana definitely needed. Take me through what those conversations have been like.

ALIYAH BOSTON: Yeah, we talked quite a few times. She was super excited to get to know me. She was very welcoming, and I got to talk to the entire staff, and it just almost made me feel at home even before this was a real reality. So, I'm just really thankful to everybody there.

Q. I want to understand the calculation you made and who and what helped you get here to be in this draft rather than maybe wanting to go back to South Carolina and pursue another season there.

ALIYAH BOSTON: Yeah, I mean, first off, everybody that has a COVID year definitely has a tough choice because you could either be somewhere where you've known the system, you've been there for four years or however many years it may be versus coming into this new system, grown-ups and it's almost like you're starting over.

It took a lot of thought because if I could go back to South Carolina again, I absolutely would because it was so much fun. But I just knew I had to do what was best for me, and I definitely think just coming to the league, and I say that just because I've always wanted to do this. I've always wanted to be a professional basketball player and I just felt like this moment was right.

Usually if I feel any doubt, if I feel any second-guessing, I can say I'm just not going to do it. But I was just very confident in myself, so I didn't want to make a different decision because I'm going to trust my gut.

Q. I heard you and Destanni kind of yelling over on the side. What was that like after when you talked and embraced? What was happening?

ALIYAH BOSTON: She was like, we're reunited and we're teammates again, and I was like, and it feels so good. You know the song? That's really what it was.

Honestly super excited to be with Henni again. It was really great playing with her in South Carolina. To already have that type of connection I think it really is just going to help us.

Q. To be able to go to a franchise like the Fever, where they haven't had success as recently but they look at you as a player who can help get them back to that historic run, what excites you most about that opportunity and how do you think you can help them reach those heights they had before?

ALIYAH BOSTON: Yeah, just being able to learn from everyone that's there already, that includes the rookies from last year, because they already have that pro life experience, so just being able to learn from them. But also to kind of be who I am and just continue to compete. I think everybody on the Fever now they're going to compete, and we're going to work hard. I'm just really excited to get that started with everyone.

Q. I'm just wondering how Coach [Dawn] Staley, as a former WNBA player herself, was able to prepare you for this moment?

ALIYAH BOSTON: You know, she's helped a lot. I think she's just helped me be the player that I am right now. Over the past four years she has been able to help guide my steps into what it is to be a pro, guide my habits, and for her to be in the crowd with the rest of our South Carolina crew is just amazing.

Q. From what you've learned in the four years at South Carolina, what is the one thing you're wanting to take what you've learned to the pros?

ALIYAH BOSTON: Just being confident and also being confident in your leadership skills. I think that's going to be the biggest thing, making sure I'm able to use my voice, talk about what I'm seeing on the court just so I can be able to help my teammates. But also just the physicality that I bring, trying to just be a dominant post player.

Q. How does it feel to have the opportunity to pick up the legacy Tamika Catchings and a bunch Indiana Fever players left off?

ALIYAH BOSTON: It feels good. I'm excited to get in that Fever jersey, get with my teammates and really get to work. I think it's going to be an exciting season.

Q. You're here with three other teammates tonight. Dawn has talked a lot about being the dream merchant for your guys. What about South Carolina and the program over the last four years has positioned you guys to all be here together tonight?

ALIYAH BOSTON: Yeah, just the way that we compete and the way that we work. I think we have all just put in a lot of work. God has really blessed us, bringing us all together at South Carolina, and for us all to be at this draft is just something that's really special, and it's honestly a dream come true because everyone that's here, not just on South Carolina, has put in so much work.

So, Coach Staley and the entire staff has helped us. They developed us into the players that we are, so it's exciting for it all to be coming together.

Q. Do you think the transition to a new team is going to be easier because you have a coach who's also transitioning to a new team?

ALIYAH BOSTON: I mean, maybe in a sense, but I think it's almost like coming from high school into college because you're new and everybody already has experience, whether it's a new coach or not. I think it's going to be a little bit different that I'm going to have to adjust to, but I definitely think the coaches are going to be able to help me.

Q. How do you see yourself in this league playing against the best, and what are your main girls?

ALIYAH BOSTON: Yeah, it feels really great to be in the league playing against the best women's basketball players ever, and I really just hope to continue to grow the Fever basketball. I think we're going to do really great things this year, and I'm just super excited for it.

Q. A lot of observers can't wait to see you free from the double or triple-team treatments you had in the NCAA. How confident are you in the fact that your game might be even more impactful at the pro level?

ALIYAH BOSTON: I'm pretty confident just because of just simply spacing. I think it's going to allow me to be able to work a little bit better. Just being able to watch the pros prior to joining the league you can just see how they can just get to work, whether they make the shot or not. But just to be able to have that, it's going to be pretty nice, I think.

Q. Obviously we just saw A'ja Wilson is going crazy right now on Twitter. Who are you most excited to see in the league at this very moment?

ALIYAH BOSTON: Honestly, every single person. One, because I don't want anybody specific coming for me, but two, just because this has been a dream of mine. So, to be able to compete against people that have a lot of experience, they can only help me grow. So, I'm really excited for that because I've always dreamt of this. So, to be able to be here, be in this moment and almost be on the court with them is pretty crazy.

Q. Just wanted to ask you, I know Candace [Parker] has been a huge fan of yours and you're a huge fan of her. What do you think it's going to be like playing against her when the Fever go up against the champion Aces?

ALIYAH BOSTON: Yeah, I'm going to be excited just to do that, but at the same time, we're on the court, so I definitely want to compete and make it really hard for her, but it's pretty cool to play against people that you look up to, and Candace is somebody that I look up to all the time. So, I'm really excited for that.

Q. What does it mean to you that you're supported by so many people in your community as well as your peers?

ALIYAH BOSTON: It's really special. I think it's just cool to see everybody not just cheering me on but the entire team, everybody that's here getting drafted, cheering us on. It just feels nice to have a good group of people behind you that want to see you succeed.

Q. I'm just curious for you what a successful season would look like when you're going to look back towards the end of the year.

ALIYAH BOSTON: That's a great question. Just knowing me, I would say winning every single game, and I still think that can happen. I think we're going to have a great team that's going to compete. We're going to continue to play for each other.

So just getting a lot of wins. I think that's the most important part, but also growing as players.