How Gamecocks greats Aliyah Boston, Zia Cooke fared in official WNBA debuts

Aliyah Boston didn’t get a double-double in her WNBA debut, but she wasn’t too far off.

The former South Carolina standout had 15 points and nine rebounds for the Indiana Fever on Friday in their 70-61 loss to the Connecticut Sun.

It was the season opener for both teams.

Boston was the No. 1 overall pick in last month’s WNBA Draft after a decorated career for the Gamecocks in which she holds the school record for double-doubles and was a National Player of the Year in 2022.

Boston’s first points came on a free throw with 8:48 in the first quarter and her first field goal came with 3:29 in the first on a jumper in the lane.

Boston was one of three Gamecocks to play in the game. Her USC and now Fever teammate Victaria Saxton played one minute but didn’t score.

Ty Harris played 17 minutes for the Sun and had five rebounds and four assists.

▪ Tiffany Mitchell had seven points and three rebounds in 22 minutes of action in Minnesota’s 77-66 loss to Chicago.

▪ Zia Cooke had 14 points, two rebounds, two assists in 14 minutes off the bench for the Los Angeles Sparks in her WNBA debut. L.A. selected Cooke No. 10 overall in this year’s draft. The Sparks defeated the Phoenix Mercury, 94-71. Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley attended the Sparks’ game, which featured the return of Brittney Griner for the Mercury.