How South Carolina's Victaria Saxton is making most of WNBA opportunity with Indiana Fever

COLUMBIA — Four South Carolina women's basketball players were invited to — and selected in — the 2023 WNBA Draft, but the surprise fifth player chosen was fifth-year forward Victaria Saxton.

Saxton was the first pick of the third round by the Indiana Fever, and selection was historic for South Carolina, making it the fourth program ever to have five players chosen in the same draft. Teammate Aliyah Boston was also drafted by the Fever with the No. 1 overall pick, and the pair reconnected with former Gamecocks point guard Destanni Henderson, who joined the Indiana roster in the 2022 WNBA Draft.

"It's been great having (Saxton) here for this entire process. She means a lot, because when I got to college she was the first person I really connected with," Boston said. "We're each other's peace in a sense just because we've been playing together for four years."

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For Saxton, having Boston to challenge her on the court has meant just as much as her friendship and support off of it.

"We've been doing this since South Carolina, so it's nothing new," Saxton added. "We know we can get on the court and battle and make each other better. We help each other out and let each other know when one need to do something better or fix something, and still be cool at the end of the day because we want the best for each other.

The 6-foot-2 Saxton is undersized for a WNBA forward, but she has already made an impression in Indiana. Coach Christy Sides said after the first preseason game that Saxton's hustle stood out alongside second-year guard Lexie Hull, and Henderson said it's Saxton's commitment to the details that makes her an impact player at the pro level.

"I feel like she's just that one-of-a-kind person. You always need somebody on the floor that's definitely going to do the little things. The hustle plays, denying the ball, getting down the floor," Henderson said. "A lot of people really don't do that a lot ... She does does the little things and intangible things, and I feel like that's very important."

Saxton was a three-year starter for the Gamecocks and averaged 4.9 points and 3.1 rebounds shooting 46% from the field in 2022-23. She credited coach Dawn Staley and the South Carolina program for giving her a foundation that transitioned smoothly to the WNBA.

"I think a lot of things that we did under Coach Dawn just prepared us for what we do here," Saxton said. "I mean, a lot of the things we do in practices, it's like 'Wow, I did this before.' I might have a different terminology, but I can say 'I've heard this before. I know what this is,' and not be confused."

Saxton played 14 minutes in the Fever's first preseason game against the Chicago Sky, logging four points, a rebound and a block. Her presence declined in the second game against the Dallas Wings with two rebounds in eight minutes.

The Fever have three more players to waive from their current roster of 15 down to the league limit of 12 before final cuts are due on Thursday, and Saxton is on the bubble of securing one of those coveted slots. Four of the 12 third-round draft picks in 2023 have already been waived.

"I didn't come here with any expectations," Saxton said. "I was just coming here ready to get all of the experience of whatever comes with it, so it's been really great ... I'm just continuing to do the little things, out-hustling people, going for the rebounds, and I think it's translated very well."

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: How South Carolina's Victaria Saxton is maximizing WNBA opportunity