The gentlemen possessed Kyrie Irving, Jayson Tatum, Zion Williamson, and Anthony Davis. The ladies should have had Paige Bueckers at that time, and JuJu Watkins presently. However, as per the regulations, they are unable to.
According to the collective bargaining agreement of the WNBA, American players must reach the age of 22, obtain their degree, or have been out of high school for four years before they can declare for the draft. On the other hand, international players only need to be 20. These rules have remained unchanged since the league’s establishment in 1997. Unlike the NBA, the W is missing out on a potential draft that could have included Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Bueckers, and Watkins if they had similar regulations to the NBA.
Last week, Watkins, a homegrown 6’2″ freshman from USC, scored 51 points against Stanford, while playing at Stanford.
In her inaugural season, Watkins has already achieved a minimum of 30 points on seven occasions. She currently maintains an average of 27.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game, with shooting percentages of 43 percent from the field and 35.3 percent from beyond the arc. Additionally, she recently graced the cover of SLAM Magazine.
“When I began my freshman season, I didn’t have many expectations for myself,” she expressed to the publication. “I was just trying to get acclimated, as they say. But now that I’m fully immersed in it, I’m setting higher goals for myself and expecting more. However, ultimately, it’s all about having fun.”
Prior to injuries impacting her career, Bueckers made a significant impact at UConn by becoming the first freshman to win the national player of the year award in women’s basketball. This accomplishment sparked discussions about early declarations in the women’s game.
“Why shouldn’t women have a choice? Half the battle is having the freedom to make that choice and then making the best decision,” Diana Taurasi stated to the Arizona Republic at the time. “The next step is having that option. Will kids take advantage of it? Probably not, but they should have the option. If you’re the best in your profession, you should be able to continue improving.”
“The men are dealing with their own eligibility issues regarding the draft. They’re trying to eliminate the one-and-done,” Sue Bird added. “It’s an evolving matter. The same will be true for us. It did come up during the previous CBA negotiations, but it wasn’t the top priority at the time. I believe players should always have a choice. What’s interesting is the whole concept of name and likeness as it relates to college (and potentially staying in school longer).”
Despite the rapid increase in attendance and viewership for women’s college basketball and the WNBA, and without delving into the discussion about the disparity in earnings between college and professional players, there is still a waiting period that players must endure before they can enter a highly competitive league that only offers 144 roster spots. Players like Paige Bueckers and JuJu Watkins will become top draft picks after completing their senior year, just as they would have been if they had the opportunity to declare as freshmen.
However, until then, both the WNBA and fans must patiently wait until some of the best talents in college basketball can grace the court alongside the professionals. For those interested in learning more about Watkins, USC will face Arizona on ESPN2 the day after the Super Bowl. It may be worth tuning in, as Watkins has scored 80 points in her last two games.
According to the Source deadspin.com