PHOENIX — The WNBA’s new collective bargaining agreement brought ample changes to the league, mostly notably to compensation, operational standards, and team staffing requirements.
One rule that remained unchanged was players’ draft eligibility.
International players can enter the draft at 19 as long as they are set to turn 20 that same calendar year. Domestic players must be turning 22 during their draft year, have graduated from a four-year college, or be at least four-years removed from high school to be draft eligible.
But there are a number of athletes today—including several at the Final Four—whose skill raises the question of whether this rule still makes sense. Naismith Women’s College Player of the Year Sarah Strong, USC guard JuJu Watkins, and Texas forward Madison Booker are just three who fall under the pro-ready category.
But these players aren’t necessarily sold on the idea of leaving college early. “I haven’t thought about the rule at all,” Booker said. “My mother, she’s a teacher, she’s always harped on education, get your degree at college.”
Texas fifth-year senior guard Rori Harmon doubled down on Booker’s point, saying she’s weighed the impact a degree has on future once her playing career is over. And beyond the common belief that there is value earning a diploma before turning pro, development off the court carries significant weight to players and coaches on the women’s side.
“I just really enjoy the college experience,” UCLA guard Gabriela Jaquez said. “Playing four years at one school, you develop a community. The fans. I think that’s what people connect with women’s basketball about is the players can usually stay in college for a really long time, so they kind of build connections that way.”
UConn coach Geno Auriemma was clear about his stance on a potential change to allow college players to enter the WNBA earlier. “I think it would be a really bad rule,” he said. “I’m not saying they need to stay four years. I’ve coached players that after their freshman year, they would be able to handle it. [But] I do think women’s basketball would suffer.”
Only a select number of players have foregone collegiate eligibility to begin their professional careers in the past 12 years. Three-time WNBA champion Jewell Loyd left Notre Dame a year early to enter the draft in 2015. WNBA champion Diamond DeShields waived her final year of eligibility at Tennessee to play professionally in Turkey before entering the WNBA draft in 2018. Phoenix Mercury forward Satou Sabally declared for the 2020 WNBA draft following her junior year at Oregon. All were top three picks in their respective draft classes.
For WNBA teams, skill development is one of the foremost considerations for whether the league should change the draft eligibility rule.
As the WNBA experiences rapid growth—going from 12 teams in 2024, to 18 teams by 2030, plus increased roster sizes with two developmental spots—there’s still a persistent question of where all this talent is going to come from. And are college coaches preparing players well enough?
Historically, the drop off between WNBA lottery picks and the rest of the class is stark. In some cases, such as the 2023 draft in which Aliyah Boston was selected with the No. 1 overall pick, there are only one or two players outside of the top pick who break through on WNBA rosters. But the league’s improved salaries—the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 draft will earn $500,000 their rookie season—demands an improvement to the talent pool.
Many WNBA team sources believe that reducing the draft eligibility age would allow teams to properly develop players for lengthy pro careers.
But several Final Four coaches shared a concern that a change to draft eligibility rules could negatively impact the growth of the women’s game overall.
Auriemma stressed the difficulty of replacing players like Azzi Fudd or Strong after one year from not only a talent standpoint, but also in terms of national recognition. UCLA coach Cori Close credited the growth of the game in part to the connection fans have with players because they aren’t one-and-done like some of their male counterparts.
Auriemma suggested adopting pro-baseball eligibility rules that allow players to be drafted straight out of high school—which he said very few if any would be ready for—or they become eligible after their junior year, regardless of age.
For now, it seems not a matter of if the rule changes, but when.
Not everyone is rushing, though. “Maybe I sound old school,” Close said. “I really am a person that’s usually like you have to pivot with whatever the landscape is. In this case I hope we hold onto that as long as we can.”
