As Sarah Strong showcased her prowess in the South Carolina frontcourt during UConn’s championship win—grabbing rebounds, defending the rim, and scoring from various spots on the court—it was easy to envision her continuing that trajectory in the WNBA. Executives must be eagerly anticipating the opportunity to draft the next star from the Huskies program.
However, they’ll have to wait another three years. According to the collective bargaining agreement, which concludes at the end of the 2025 season, American players can only be drafted after completing four years of college. The sole exception allows players to declare after their junior year if they turn 22 in the calendar year of the WNBA Draft. With Strong’s birthday in February, that route isn’t available to her.
As women’s basketball flourishes, players are gaining more options for shaping their careers—whether through the college transfer portal or new professional leagues. Yet, this particular choice remains beyond their control.
“I definitely think we should have the option,” USC star JuJu Watkins mentioned on the “Good Game with Sarah Spain” podcast. “The growth in college basketball has been remarkable, so why would anyone want to leave? This is a chance to build a brand and gain experience in college. I definitely think we should have that option, but college also prepares us for the pros. … It’s a sensitive topic, but I support it.”
While a change allowing early declarations seems unlikely, a number of underclassmen appear poised to be enticing pro prospects, with Strong leading the charge. Watkins, who has two years of eligibility left, is a likely lottery pick, despite her upcoming WNBA season being affected by a torn ACL. Texas’ Madison Booker possesses the physical attributes and scoring ability ideal for the WNBA, while her fellow SEC players Ashlyn Watkins from South Carolina and Talaysia Cooper from Tennessee also seem ready for professional play.
There’s a world where JuJu Watkins decides to sit out the upcoming season, using both of her final years of eligibility, and enters the 2028 WNBA Draft that features Sarah Strong.
If you were a GM with the No. 1 overall pick, who would you choose? pic.twitter.com/AUixhKz3oc
— I talk hoops
(@trendyhoopstars) April 11, 2025
(@trendyhoopstars) The age limit has historically benefitted most stakeholders, despite limiting individual player freedom. The WNBA is already the most competitive league globally, and increasing the number of players vying for a limited number of roster spots doesn’t serve the current player base well.
Recently, college experiences have become more favorable than those in the WNBA, making it less appealing for athletes to sacrifice their chance at a college degree to join a league that offers less financial compensation. Nonetheless, certain players, such as No. 1 picks Jewell Loyd and Jackie Young, have seized the opportunity to go pro after three years, while Satou Sabally, the No. 2 pick in 2020, highlighted financial reasons for leaving Oregon early, as she was there before athletes could profit from their name, image, and likeness.
Conversely, foreign-born athletes do not face the same age restrictions as their American peers. Those outside the U.S. can declare for the draft in the year they turn 20, provided they do not attend NCAA schools, which presumably aims to attract global talent to the WNBA. Such concessions haven’t been extended to American players who have always dreamed of playing professionally.
Although the WNBA offers better pay and visibility now, college sports also present opportunities through collectives and NIL deals, allowing athletes to capitalize on their earning potential while waiting to enter the professional arena.
The age limit benefits the league as well. Rookies, arriving with four years of national exposure and substantial name recognition from college, are generally more physically ready for the professional game. While casual NBA fans may struggle to identify one-and-done college players, most WNBA fans are likely already familiar with talents like Paige Bueckers, Aneesah Morrow, and Hailey Van Lith before they even step onto the pro scene.
Consequently, despite ongoing negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement, the age limit is unlikely to be a focal point.
“It has been brought up, but I don’t believe it’s a major priority,” Seattle Storm guard Lexie Brown shared on “The Ringer WNBA Show” last month. “Entering the professional world at 18 or 19 without a degree to play a sport with nonguaranteed contracts is a risky proposition.”
It’s worth contemplating whether Bueckers would be the first overall pick if all players in college this season were eligible for the draft. Strong’s skills and youthful potential in a league that is still centered around post play make her a captivating prospect. Watkins’ undeniable talent also places her in that discussion.
For the moment, such discussions remain theoretical. College basketball continues to attract a larger audience, enabling the WNBA to maintain its exclusivity and restrict access to younger talent despite the wealth of ability already present in the league. The number of players realistically capable of making an early leap is too small to warrant a significant rule overhaul.
(Photos of Madison Booker and Sarah Strong: Alex Slitz / Getty Images, Joe Buglewicz / Getty Images)
