WNBA Rookie of The Year Odds: Top Pick Aliyah Boston the Expected Favorite
No. 2 pick Diamond Miller Boasts Second-Best Odds at +220
As expected, Aliyah Boston is favored to win Rookie of the Year after the Indiana Fever selected the former South Carolina star first overall in the 2023 WNBA Draft. Boston figures to face plenty of competition though, particularly from No. 2 pick Diamond Miller, as well as Maddy Siegrist, an elite scorer who rounded out the draft’s first three selections. Will anybody else enter the mix?
Here, we break down the WNBA Rookie of the Year odds.
THE FAVORITES
Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever (+150)
The Fever made Boston the No. 1 pick in this year’s WNBA Draft following a standout career at South Carolina, where she was a unanimous three-time First Team All-American and two-time Naismith Defensive Player of the Year. Boston also won National Player of the Year honors in 2022, as the Gamecocks captured their second NCAA title in program history.
At 6-foot-5, Boston has both the physical tools and skills to become an immediate impact player in the post for a franchise that has not been to the postseason since 2016. It’s no wonder she has the best WNBA Rookie of the Year odds.
Diamond Miller, Minnesota Lynx (+220)
Miller had an outstanding senior season for the Terrapins, averaging 19.7 points and 6.4 rebounds while shooting 47.6%. At 6-3, Miller has the size and positional versatility to excel on both ends of the floor. It’s why she was the second player off the board.
As the franchise turns a new chapter following the retirement of legendary center Sylvia Fowles, Miller will team with 2019 Rookie of the Year and two-time All-Star Napheesa Collier to form a new core.
Maddy Siegrist, Dallas Wings (+325)
Siegrist led the nation in scoring at 29.2 points per game and shot 36.1% from 3-point range last season, leading Villanova to its first Sweet 16 since 2003. The No. 3 overall pick, Siegrist should provide immediate offense for the Wings, giving the team another dynamic playmaker alongside two-time All-Star Arike Ogunbowale.
Haley Jones, Atlanta Dream (+1200)
Jones fell outside the lottery to No. 6 because of questions about her perimeter shot (23-of-105 from 3, 21.9%). Given everything else she can do, it looks like a wise pick by Atlanta.
Jones has the potential to fill the WNBA stat sheet like she did at Stanford, where she averaged 13.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists as a senior and was a First-Team All-American. The year prior, Jones was named Final Four Most Outstanding Player after leading the Cardinal to the NCAA title.
Lou Lopez Senechal, Dallas Wings (+1800)
Lopez Senechal — the third of four first-round picks by Dallas — solidified herself as a WNBA prospect in her lone season at UConn. The Fairfield transfer was the most accurate shooter in the draft, hitting 44% of her attempts from deep as a Husky. She also averaged 15.5 points, proving unfazed by the jump in competition.
The No. 5 overall pick, Lopez Senechal missed the start of training camp with Dallas because of a knee injury. If that doesn’t prove to be an ongoing issue, she could offer strong value with WNBA Rookie of the Year odds of 18/1.
DARK HORSE CANDIDATES (+2000 or longer)
Jordan Horston, Seattle Storm (+2500)
Reigning scoring champion Breanna Stewart signed with New York and 13-time All-Star Sue Bird retired, officially ushering in a rebuild in Seattle. Drafting the former Tennessee star ninth overall was a good start for the Storm.
The 6-2 Horston graded well on both sides of the floor last season, averaging 15.6 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.6 steals. She could see significant playing time from the jump as part of a youth movement, giving her a strong chance to surpass expectations.
Laeticia Amihere, Atlanta Dream (+4000)
Amihere — one of three South Carolina players drafted in the first round besides Boston and Zia Cooke, who went 10th to Los Angeles — boasts strong size at 6-4. That, coupled with her athleticism on the wing, could make the No. 8 overall pick a strong fit with the Dream. The Canadian native shot 49% off the bench as a senior.
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