The men’s basketball world is filled with excitement and anticipation as top players like Kyrie Irving, Jayson Tatum, Zion Williamson, and Anthony Davis make their mark on the NBA. However, the women’s game is missing out on the opportunity to showcase its own potential talent due to restrictive rules.
In the WNBA, American players must be 22 years old, have earned 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 years old. These rules have remained unchanged since the league’s inception in 1997, unlike the NBA where players can declare for the draft after one year of college.
This discrepancy means that talented American players like Paige Bueckers and JuJu Watkins, who have already shown immense potential in their college careers, are unable to enter the WNBA draft until their senior year. Bueckers, a freshman at UConn, made waves by becoming the first freshman to win national player of the year on the women’s side. Watkins, USC’s homegrown freshman, recently dropped an impressive 51 points on Stanford.
Both Bueckers and Watkins have displayed exceptional skills and have the potential to be top draft picks. However, due to the current rules, they will have to wait until their senior year to enter the WNBA. This delay not only hinders their individual progression but also deprives the league of the opportunity to showcase their talent and attract more fans.
The issue of early declaration in women’s basketball has been a topic of discussion, with players and industry professionals advocating for a change in the rules. Diana Taurasi, a prominent WNBA player, emphasized the importance of giving players the choice to pursue professional careers if they are the best at their profession. Sue Bird echoed this sentiment, stating that players should always have a choice and that the issue was discussed during the last collective bargaining agreement negotiations.
While women’s college basketball and the WNBA have seen a rise in attendance and viewership, there is still a waiting process for players before they can enter the professional league. The WNBA has only 144 roster spots, making it highly competitive for new players to secure a spot. Players like Bueckers and Watkins would undoubtedly be top draft picks after their senior year, just as they would have been if they could have declared as freshmen.
Until the rules change, fans of women’s basketball and the WNBA will have to wait patiently for these talented players to take the court with the pros. In the meantime, fans can tune in to watch JuJu Watkins in action as USC faces Arizona on ESPN2. With her recent impressive performances, scoring 80 points in her last two games, Watkins is definitely a player to watch and support.
