The WNBA has a good problem on its hands.
South Carolina senior Aliyah Boston is all but unanimously expected to be the first overall selection at Monday night’s 2023 WNBA Draft. While Boston’s unique talent alone could have made her the No. 1 pick, the absence of LSU’s Angel Reese and Iowa’s Caitlin Clark is palpable.
The two superstars who electrified women’s March Madness won’t be selected for one simple reason: They don’t qualify under the league’s eligibility rules, which were ratified in 2020 under a collective bargaining agreement that runs through 2027.
Women’s basketball has enjoyed a significantly higher profile in recent years, but the pro game’s salaries still lag behind men’s sports, and the endorsement opportunities for women’s athletes are still finding their footing. And with the rise of NIL, the rush to turn pro still isn’t pressing.
Effectively, the WNBA has a few years before it begins CBA negotiations to get to a place where being in the pro league is more financially beneficial than being in college for young players. Can it happen?
