Aliyah Boston is the unanimous selection for the 2023 WNBA Rookie of the Year award, receiving all 60 votes from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.

The No. 1 overall pick out of South Carolina proved to be everything and more for the Indiana Fever this season, putting together one of the best rookie seasons on record. Her 14.5 points and 8.4 rebounds per game helped the Fever to 13 wins, an improvement from the five games they won last season.

Boston led all rookies in scoring, rebounds, steals, blocks and minutes per game. She also became just the sixth rookie All-Star starter.

In the first six games of her career, Boston averaged 15 points per game on 70% shooting – something no other WNBA player had done before. And she’s the first player in WNBA history to average 15 points per game on 60% shooting through 20 career games.

“Aliyah’s not normal. She’s not the normal rookie,” Fever veteran Erica Wheeler said. “She understands what it means to be a great teammate, and a great sister, too. She’s a franchise player.”

In August, Boston became the fourth rookie in WNBA history to have a 25-point, 10-rebound, four-steal game. She finished the season with 11 double-doubles to lead the 2023 rookie class.

Joining Boston on the All-Rookie team are Dorka Juhász and Diamond Miller of the Minnesota Lynx, Li Meng of the Washington Mystics and Jordan Horston of the Seattle Storm.

The announcement of the 2023 WNBA MVP award, won by New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart, elicited a flood of reactions on social media.

Stewart won the award with 446 points, but received fewer first-place votes than runner-up Alyssa Thomas of the Connecticut Sun. Las Vegas Aces forward A’ja Wilson finished in third place.

Dawn Staley, who coached Wilson at South Carolina, congratulated Stewart on her victory and Thomas on her historic season. But she had harsh words for one voter, who put Aces guard Chelsea Gray in third place on the ballot over Wilson.

“To the fourth place voter, your hate is real and on display,” Staley wrote on X.

U.S. women’s national team and San Diego Wave star Alex Morgan also complimented Stewart.

Several WNBA players and members of the media called out the voting process. Each voter on a national panel of 60 sportswriters and broadcasters listed their top five candidates, with the No. 1 player on each ballot receiving 10 points. Each subsequent spot on the ballot received fewer points, from seven for a second-place vote down to one for a fifth-place vote.

 

Washington Mystics guard Natasha Cloud wanted to see members of the voting panel stand behind their choices. Voters can reveal their ballots, but they are not required to do so.

Cloud already had slammed the WNBA awards voting process after being shut out for the All-Defensive Team selections, writing in a since-deleted post: “Voting for this league is a joke.”

Meanwhile, Indiana Fever rookie Aliyah Boston joked about her own MVP prospects. The former South Carolina star appeared on one MVP ballot, receiving a single point for a fifth-place vote, but she remains the frontrunner for the Rookie of the Year award.

“I’m almost there don’t play,” she wrote on X.

Dawn Staley has built a pipeline to the WNBA at South Carolina, and that has been on full display during the 2023 WNBA season.

From rookies Aliyah Boston and Zia Cooke to MVP candidate A’ja Wilson, nine former Gamecocks currently grace WNBA rosters, The Athletic reported. That is the third-highest total in the league behind Notre Dame (10) and UConn (16).

“To see all of us achieving our goals and being able to play against each other, it’s special,” Cooke told The Athletic. The 22-year-old guard played in 39 games for the Los Angeles Sparks in her first professional season.

Players say that Staley’s coaching style helps to prepare them for the WNBA from the moment they step on campus as freshmen. She instills “pro habits,” including mental toughness and work ethic, to help her players flourish at the next level.

The formula has worked. On top of having nine players on rosters, three of the last seven Rookie of the Year winners will have come from South Carolina – Allisha Gray, Wilson and, soon, Boston. A shoo-in for the 2023 award, Boston averaged 14.5 points and 8.4 rebounds per game for the Indiana Fever.

“That South Carolina program really grooms these guys to compete,” Sparks coach Curt Miller said.

And former Gamecocks returning to campus and helping out the program helps too.

“When they come back, I try to get them to practice with us,” Staley said. “I try to get them to impart knowledge on how to play at the next level, the type of habits they’ve created to have staying power and to have dominating power once they’re in the league.”

Wilson sees the wisdom Staley has imparted on her as a “huge key” to her success with the reigning champion Las Vegas Aces. That includes twice being named WNBA MVP – with a potential third accolade coming. And she’s been happy seeing her fellow South Carolina alums find success in the WNBA as well.

“To see it all unfold and to see us all here being successful across the league, it’s truly something special,” Wilson said. “I’m always proud to say, I’m a product of Dawn Staley, and that’s the stamp. That’s a big stamp for me and I love it, and you can see it carries out throughout my college teammates. And it’s just a type of vibe that we give, the culture that we built there. It’s no surprise that we’re being very successful in this league.”

The WNBA’s 2023 end-of-season awards have been debated all season long. The MVP category has naturally received the most attention because of the nature of the award and the tight race among the three frontrunners: Alyssa Thomas, Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson.

As a WNBA media voter, I submitted my selections for all of the major awards toward the end of the regular season. After a full-season review and careful consideration, these were my choices.

Most Valuable Player

Alyssa Thomas, Connecticut Sun

The MVP award came down to a three-player race between Wilson (Aces), Stewart (Liberty) and Thomas (Sun). All three have compelling cases that made this the most difficult category to vote for. To me, though, Thomas’ overall importance to her team and her ability to impact every aspect of the game gives her the edge.

Thomas accomplished something this season that no other player in WNBA history has done, recording six triple-doubles in 2023. Her ability to impact the game can’t be understated, as she does everything for the No. 3 Sun.

She leads Connecticut with 15.5 points, 9.9 rebounds, 7.9 assists and 1.8 steals per game, and she is first in the WNBA in rebounds and second in assists.

When 2021 WNBA MVP Jonquel Jones was traded to New York in the offseason, it was hard to imagine Connecticut being the third-best team in the WNBA heading into playoffs, yet here they are. That’s because of Thomas. She runs Connecticut’s offense and guards every position on defense.

Teammate DiJonai Carrington summed up Thomas’ performance well after her third triple-double of the season: “I don’t want any of y’all to get used to and normalize what she’s doing out there, for real. Like, that’s not normal.”

It’s not normal, it’s historic. And that is worthy of the MVP award.

Coach of the Year

Sandy Brondello, New York Liberty

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(Catalina Fragoso/NBAE via Getty Images)

In her second year with New York, Sandy Brondello took the Liberty from a 16-20 record to a 32-8 record. During the offseason, the Liberty saw an influx of talent with the additions of Stewart, Jones and Courtney Vanderlsoot. But Brondello’s coaching can’t be discounted simply because she now has more tools. Sure, the new talent is a large part of the franchise’s improvement, but it’s not the only piece.

Brondello was able to take a team that early in the season looked like a collection of stars who didn’t know how to play together, and turn it into a cohesive unit that is a favorite to win the WNBA title. Brondello found a way to maximize the talent of her starting five and use her bench unit wisely to elevate the whole team.

Sixth Player of the Year

DiJonai Carrington, Connecticut Sun

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(M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

There were several strong candidates for Sixth Player of the Year: Dana Evans helped the Sky overcome in-season adversity and sneak into the playoffs, and Alysha Clark changed the complexity of Las Vegas on both ends of the court when she entered games. But for me, the award should go to Connecticut’s DiJonai Carrington.

Early in the season, Carrington’s role was unclear and she played limited minutes. But the third-year player stayed the course and became a valuable part of the Sun playing their way to the 3-seed. In 17.2 minutes per game, she’s shooting 37% from long range and averaging 8.3 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.

Carrington brings an energy to both ends of the floor when she’s subbed in. Coach Stephanie White often chooses to leave her in during close game situations down the stretch, summing up her impact.

Most Improved Player

Jordin Canada, Los Angeles Sparks

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(Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images)

It was an up-and-down season for the Sparks as they narrowly missed the playoffs, but Jordin Canada was a constant bright spot. In her second year with Los Angeles, the 28-year-old established herself as a point guard to build around.

Canada improved in every stat category this season, with career-high averages in points (13.3), assists (6.0), rebounds (3.1) and steals (2.3). Her 3-point shooting also saw a massive increase, going from 14% to 33%.

Canada has a hand in every Sparks possession when she’s on the court, both offensively and defensively. She averages 2.8 steals per 40 minutes, the best mark in the WNBA, and was also in the running for Defensive Player of the Year.

Rookie of the Year

Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever

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(Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

This award has been Boston’s to lose all season. While Lynx guard Diamond Miller made a push when she returned from injury, Boston was steady from her first game to her last, earning her my vote.

The No. 1 draft pick averaged 14.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocks per game for the Fever. She was also incredibly efficient when shooting the ball, making 57.8% of her attempts, the third-best mark in the league.

Though her team missed the playoffs, they improved drastically from last season, and Boston was a big part of that. Rookie of the Year is likely the first of many awards Boston will win throughout her career.

Defensive Player of the Year

A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces

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(David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images)

Wilson earned my vote for the second year in a row because she continues to change the way opponents play against the Aces. Her presence in the paint is enough to make players shy away from driving to the lane, and when they dare to challenge her, Wilson leads the league in shot-blocking with 2.2 per game.

Wilson isn’t just a shot-blocker, either. She knows how to defend without fouling, averaging only 2.1 fouls per game, while pulling down the third-most defensive rebounds in the league. She also has good hands defensively and can extend outside the paint with 1.4 steals per game.

All WNBA First Team

Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty
A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
Alyssa Thomas, Connecticut Sun
Satou Sabally, Dallas Wings
Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx

Eden Laase is a Staff Writer at Just Women’s Sports. Follow her on Twitter @eden_laase.

Aliyah Boston as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft was a foregone conclusion. Aliyah Boston as the WNBA’s Rookie of the Year could be the same.

So far this season, Boston isn’t just the best among her rookie class — she’s putting together one of the best rookie seasons ever.

On Aug. 6, Boston became just the fourth rookie in WNBA history to have a 25-point, 10-rebound, four-steal game. Through 33 games, Boston’s averages not only lead WNBA rookies in nearly every category but also rank among the league’s best. She is contributing 14.7 points per game (23rd overall) and 8.2 rebounds per game (ninth overall) for the Indiana Fever. She also leads the entire league in field-goal percentage at 59.9%.

“You wouldn’t know that she’s a rookie. She’s polished in everything that she does. She’s a professional,” All-Star guard and Fever teammate Kelsey Mitchell told Andscape last month. “She’s a great post player, obviously. More importantly, she’s got the professional look already and she’s just getting started. I’m proud of her.”

In her debut season, Boston became the first player in WNBA history to average 15 points per game on 60% shooting through 20 career games. The former South Carolina star is also the sixth player in the last two decades to have 300 points and 150 rebounds through 20 games, joining the likes of A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart and Candace Parker.

“I knew she was special, but she’s exceeded it,” first-year Fever coach Christy Sides told reporters in July. “You just don’t know until you get into this league how you’re going to respond. It’s the different levels, size, speed, quickness, strength — she hadn’t faced that night in and night out. She takes everything in, she talks to every coach, she watches video with every coach, she asks the best questions.”

The 21-year-old forward was named Rookie of the Month in May and June, and in July she became the youngest player to start in a WNBA All-Star Game. Only two other players — Sue Bird and Chamique Holdsclaw — started in an All-Star Game before turning 22, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

“I don’t want to sound like I’m being cocky, but I expect greatness,” Boston told reporters shortly after being named the eighth rookie All-Star Game starter in WNBA history.

“Greatness is just being true to who you are but also working hard to accomplish the goals,” Boston later told Andscape. “Every time I step on the court, I expect to be dominant. I go out there every game and I’m just going to be who I am.”

And the praise being heaped on Boston doesn’t end with her own teammates and coaches.

“She’s going to be a great one,” Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon said of Boston following the All-Star Game. “Already what I think Coach Sides has done in Indiana, the culture and everything that she’s trying to build there, and they have a centerpiece. Literally, a centerpiece.”

LAS VEGAS — Aliyah Boston flipped her cascading pink and white braids. She hit the stanky leg and flashed a smile.

Then, the WNBA rookie scored the first bucket of the All-Star Game. Boston finished with six points and 11 rebounds in 19 minutes as her Team Wilson ultimately fell to Team Stewart, 143-127, on Saturday night.

Three months ago, Boston was in college. On Saturday, the Indiana Fever star looked at home as her name was announced among the All-Star starters to a cheering Las Vegas arena.

Boston was more than ready for this moment. Not just the All-Star Game, but the league in general.

She was ready when she was taken first overall in the 2023 draft. She was ready when opposing teams triple-teamed her throughout the 2022-23 college season just to attempt to slow her down. Boston was ready during her National Player of the Year campaign in 2021-22, and maybe even before.

The term “pro-ready” has been suctioned to Boston’s name for a long time, and for good reason.

“She was ready in college. And not just during her senior year, before that,” Stanford senior Cameron Brink said. “It doesn’t matter what level she’s playing at. She’s going to be dominant.”

In her rookie season with the Fever, Boston is averaging 15.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.3 blocks and one steal while shooting 61% from the field. That shooting percentage is better than her career and season marks at South Carolina, an amazing feat when you consider the increase in talent from college to the WNBA.

Boston’s physical skills have lent themselves well to the WNBA, where she is able to use her strength to displace defenders and her touch to finish around the rim. It’s a skill set with which anyone who watched or played against Boston at South Carolina is familiar.

Boston has recognized the increased physicality in the WNBA, but it didn’t take the Fever forward long to adjust. Even in her first WNBA game, against the Sun on May 19, she had 15 points, nine rebounds and a block while shooting 60% from the field.

That stat line came against Brionna Jones, one of the league’s top post players, and Boston had no issues with the matchup.

“She is definitely the strongest player I’ve played against,” said Brink, who faced Boston in several high-profile NCAA games, including the 2021 Final Four. “She’s solid. She can will her way to the basket. She has great hands. She’s a great rebounder, and she has a midrange game as well. She’s the prototype low post, honestly.”

Then, there’s the defense. Boston was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year in college, known specifically for her rim protection. She made opposing guards think twice about driving the lane, and posts had to utilize extra creativity to get the ball to the rim.

Her shot-blocking has also translated to the WNBA level, where she averages 1.3 per game, tied for eighth overall in the league.

North Carolina guard Deja Kelly can’t help but laugh when she thinks about playing Boston during her sophomore season.

“I felt bad for my posts,” she said. “They could not move her. She was literally bullying them all game. And they’d laugh if they heard me say that. We were making fun of them.”

Kelly admits that she didn’t fare too well driving against Boston, either.

“She probably got a block or two off on me,” Kelly said. “Her presence is definitely felt when she’s on the court. When we played [South Carolina], our goal was not to drive the paint. I was getting to my midrange, shooting outside shots because I knew better.”

Boston’s seamless transition into the WNBA doesn’t stop with her game skills. The 21-year-old has the mindset of a pro, something that started in college while playing for three-time National Coach of the Year Dawn Staley. She made a point to learn everyone’s assignments on defense and studied aspects of the scouting report that didn’t even apply to her.

That hasn’t changed.

“Aliyah is special, man,” Fever coach Christie Sides said in May. “She wants to learn. She’s asking questions, good questions. She’s watching a lot of video. She’s doing extra work with the coaches.”

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Boston nearly recorded a double-double in her 2023 WNBA debut. (Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

Boston enjoyed her All-Star weekend, accompanied by her parents and older sister. She walked the Orange Carpet in an Adidas set and got her nails painted pink and white to match her hair. She even knocked down a halfcourt shot during practice on Friday.

But she also set out to learn. Surrounded by elite post players, including fellow South Carolina alum and All-Star teammate A’ja Wilson, Boston had role models aplenty.

“When you look at the level of intensity that all of these women play with, it is truly special,” she said. “I really look at all of them to see how I can improve my game, because they all have a lot of experience over me and it’s just nice to see where they’re at right now.”

While Boston looked up to an older generation of posts during All-Star weekend, current college players looked up to her. A few months ago, they were in the same league. Now, Boston is an All-Star starter.

Her success gives them something to aspire to.

“To already be an All-Star is insane,” Kelly said. “She’s out there getting 20 and 10 [in WNBA games], and it’s light work. I think it’s super dope.”

Eden Laase is a Staff Writer at Just Women’s Sports. Follow her on Twitter @eden_laase.

The WNBA All-Star weekend’s Orange Carpet did not miss.

This 2023 All-Star Game is taking place in Las Vegas, with the city’s fans serving as gracious hosts – cheering on the participants in the skills challenge and 3-point contest Friday and selling out the game itself Saturday. And Friday night featured another time-honored tradition: the Orange Carpet.

“It’s crazy to think yesterday was just Thursday,” Aces star and 2022 WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson said. “I feel like All-Star weekend started yesterday, but it obviously starts today. We’re going to have a lot of fun and entertain.”

For Wilson, it’s been fun getting to show off the city of Las Vegas and the growth that the women’s game has experienced since the team won its first title last season.

“We’re home, we’re here, and we’re happy to show everyone how we get down here in Vegas,” she said.

Chelsea Gray noted that it’s “pretty cool” to be at All-Star weekend with her Las Vegas teammates. “I know the vibes are going to be great,” she added.

And for Brittney Griner, the opportunity to be back at the All-Star Game is one she cherishes. The Phoenix Mercury center, who spent 10 months wrongfully detained in Russia in 2022, called it “a great feeling to be here.” She also added that she’s looking forward to playing on Team Stewart on Saturday.

“Being here right now, it’s a little surreal, a little bit,” Griner said. “Just taking it in.”

From New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu looking as sharp as she shot the ball in the 3-point contest to Indiana Fever rookie Aliyah Boston showing off her Adidas fit, check out highlights from the Orange Carpet.

Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty

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(Grace Beal/NBAE via Getty Images)

Satou Sabally, Dallas Wings

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(Grace Beal/NBAE via Getty Images)

Kelsey Plum, Las Vegas Aces

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(Grace Beal/NBAE via Getty Images)

Kahleah Copper, Chicago Sky

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(Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images)

DiJonai Carrington, Connecticut Sun

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(Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images)

Jackie Young, Las Vegas Aces

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(Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images)

Isabelle Harrison, Chicago Sky

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(Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images)

Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx

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(Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images)

Courtney Vandersloot, New York Liberty, and Allie Quigley, free agent

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(Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images)

Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty

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(Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images)

Sami Whitcomb, Seattle Storm

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(Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images)

DiDi Richards, free agent

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(Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images)

Nneka Ogwumike, Los Angeles Sparks

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(Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images)

Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner, Connecticut Sun

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(Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images)

Chelsea Gray, Las Vegas Aces

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(Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images)

Ezi Magbegor, Seattle Storm

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(Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images)

Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever

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(Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images)

Aliyah Boston hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to send the Indiana Fever to overtime Wednesday afternoon, but Sabrina Ionescu had the last laugh in the New York Liberty’s 95-87 win.

Boston is not known for her 3-point shooting. The Fever rookie shot just 24.2% from beyond the arc in her four years at South Carolina, and 10.5% in her senior season with the Gamecocks. She has attempted just two 3-pointers through 19 games to start her WNBA career.

Still, she picked a great time to sink her first WNBA 3-pointer. As the final seconds ticked off the clock in the fourth quarter, she scored a contested shot as time expired to push the game to overtime with the score tied at 80.

LeBron James applauded Boston’s shot and the Fever’s comeback on Twitter.

Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello also complimented Boston’s play. The 6-5 forward finished with 23 points and nine rebounds.

“Her game is suited to the pros,” Brondello said. “We tried to throw some traps at her, but she was triple-teamed in college. She’s just very skilled. She’s got good touch around the basket. She rebounds extremely well. She really works for her positioning. She’s a handful, and she’s only going to get better and better.”

Ionescu, though, propelled her team to victory, contributing 34 points, six rebounds and five assists. The fourth-year guard scored two of her seven 3-pointers in overtime to help seal the win.

“She’s a clutch player,” Liberty forward Jonquel Jones said. “When it gets tough, she’s hitting big shots. So I think we all look for her, especially late in the game… She shoots with the same fluidity and the same poise as she shoots in the first quarter, so (she is) definitely our go-to person late.”

Aliyah Boston is separating herself from the pack in the WNBA Rookie of the Year race.

That’s not counting out the crop of rookie talent in the league this season, with Haley Jones, Jordan Horston and Zia Cooke making their marks. Rather, Boston’s front-runner status speaks to the dominance she has put on display in her first 14 games in the league.

Named a starter for the 2023 All-Star Game, she’s the first rookie to achieve that feat since 2014, when Shoni Schimmel started in the 2014 All-Star Game — and took home the MVP award. Boston has earned her place in the lineup, averaging 15.9 points and 8.5 rebounds per game to lead all rookies.

The former South Carolina star also leads the entire WNBA in field goal percentage at .636.

She’s the first rookie All-Star for the Indiana Fever since Tamika Catchings in 2002. Other WNBA players to have been named starters in their respective rookie seasons include Maya Moore, Sue Bird, Chamique Holdsclaw, Elena Delle Donne and Brittney Griner.

“It’s really special,” Boston said of joining that list of players. “Sometimes, there’s not enough words, or words you can even say because the feeling is just unmatched. I never thought in my rookie season that I would be an All-Star, let alone an All-Star starter, just because of the amount of talented women I’m surrounded by, but it’s a great feeling.”

Boston officially was named a starter Sunday, but she found out from WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert ahead of time, and she couldn’t keep the secret in.

“Miss Cathy said not to tell anyone, but I texted my whole family group chat — don’t tell her,” Boston said Monday night. “I told them they have to keep it a secret, it’s just my mom, my dad, and my aunt. I’m like, ‘Guys, shhh, but listen, come to Vegas.’”

She also was texting with Fever head coach Christie Sides on the team bus while traveling, who had to mask her excitement from the rest of the team.

“We were all separated, so Aliyah got the call, and then she told me,” Sides said. “We didn’t know if we could tell anybody, so we were all just sitting on the bus and she and I were texting. All she wants to talk about is her team, you know, and that’s the difference in her. That’s what makes her so special.”

A telling marker of Boston’s early success comes in the player votes for the All-Star Game. She came in sixth among frontcourt players in voting by her fellow WNBA stars, who recognized her talent and contributed to her starting spot.

And on Monday, she showcased why she could force herself into the conversation not just for rookie of the year but for MVP as well, putting up a 20-point, 14-rebound double-double against the Las Vegas Aces and fellow Gamecock A’ja Wilson.

The WNBA on Sunday announced the 10 players — four guards and six frontcourt players — who will start the 2023 All-Star Game.

For a second straight year, the Las Vegas Aces’ A’ja Wilson and the New York Liberty’s Breanna Stewart will serve as team captains after receiving the most fan votes of any All-Star starter.  Wilson received a grand total of 95,860 fan votes, while Stewart clocked in at 87,586.

In addition to Wilson and Stewart, the other frontcourt starters include Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury), Satou Sabally (Dallas Wings), Aliyah Boston (Indiana Fever) and Nneka Ogwumike (Los Angeles Sparks).

The four starting guards are Jackie Young (Las Vegas Aces), Jewell Loyd (Seattle Storm), Arike Ogunbowale (Dallas Wings) and Chelsea Gray (Las Vegas Aces).

Boston, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2023 WNBA Draft, is the eighth rookie selected to start an All-Star Game but first since 2014. She is also the only first-time All-Star of the group, while Griner is the starter with the most All-Star appearances (9).

Wilson and Stewart will draft their teams during a special WNBA All-Star selection show on Saturday, July 8 (1 p.m. ET, ESPN). The WNBA All-Star Game will be played at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, July 15, with the game airing on ABC (5:30 p.m. PT/8:30 p.m. ET).

How does WNBA All-Star voting work?

WNBA All-Star starters were determined by a combination of fan voting (50%), media voting (25%) and current player voting (25%).

Twelve reserves will be selected by the league’s head coaches, who each vote for three guards, five frontcourt players and four players at either position — though they are restricted from voting for their own players.

2023 WNBA All-Star Starters

See below for two tables that show the breakdown of All-Star voting by fans, media members, and current players for the top-10 athletes at each position. Starters are indicated with an asterisk (*).