While Sarah Strong took control of South Carolina’s front during the victory of the Uconn National Championship, adhering to the apostasy, protecting the edge and record from everywhere on the field, it was also easy to imagine at the next level. WNBA executives had to get their saliva about the idea of formulating the next Huskies star.
But they will have to wait another three years. According to the collective negotiation agreement, which expires at the end of the 2025 season, the American -born American players are qualified to formulate after the completion of four years of college. The only exception is that players can advertise after beginners seasons if they reach 22 during the evaluation year from the draft of Wnba. Since Strong has a birthday in February, that will not be an option.
As women’s basketball, players enjoy more options in shaping their career, whether in the college through the transport portal or professionally with the new league championships. However, this is one decision that is still out of his will.
“I definitely think we should have the option,” said the USC Juju Watkins star on “Good game with Sarah Spain.” “There was just a growth in university basketball, where the matter was, why do you want to leave? Because you are able to get this experience and build your brand here in the college as well. I would like to say that we must definitely have the option, but I think the college is a way to prepare us for professionals as well … it is a sensitive topic, but I am for that.”
Although the change to allow players to advertise early is unlikely, enough of the lower class seduce professional horizons at the present time, which Strong tops. Watskins, which has two years left of eligibility, will be a choice of a lottery without minds, even with the torn ACL that will keep it on the marginalization of the upcoming WNBA season. Madison Boker of Texas has a Wnba Body and Prow-UP game, and her players may be in SEC Ashlyn Watkins (South Carolina) and Talaysia Cooper (Tennesse) as well.
There is a world in which Juju Watkins decided to sit out of the next season, using both the last two years of eligibility, and enters the WNBA draft of 2028, which is characterized by a strong pleasure.
If you are General Motors with General Selection No. 1, then who will you choose? pic.twitter.com/auixhkz3oc
– Talk 🏀 (Trendyhooopstars) April 11, 2025
The idea of reducing age from most parties has benefited historically, even if it was shrinking the individual players agency. WNBA is already the most difficult league in the world that is making a second contract, and does not have the total current players to add more competitors to the list of limited list.
Until recently, the player’s experience was better in the college than WNBA. It was often not logical that athletes sacrifice the ability to obtain a university degree to join the league, which did not pay this well. However, some players have benefited from the opportunity to go to the professionals after three seasons, including No. 1 chooses Jewell Loyd and Jackie Young. Satou Sably, selection No. 2 in 2020, was martyred to financial affairs because she left Oregon early, as she was in college before the athletes could earn money.
Athletes born abroad do not have to deal with the same age -related restrictions as their American counterparts. Players born outside the United States can announce the 20 -year -old draft, provided that they do not attend the college in the NCAA system, and it is assumed that it is a way to stimulate talent around the world to play in WNBA. These concessions have not been made to American players, who are already dreaming of playing in the league.
Now WNBA has better accommodations, more profitable salaries with a higher level, but total sport also offers money from collective groups and the ability to profit from NIL deals. Athletes no longer lack their potential to win them by depriving them of early entry to professional ranks.
The league benefits from the minimum age. In addition to the fact that young people are more physically convenient for the PRO, NCAA is a great marketing tool for Wnba. Players come to the league with four years of national exposure and OIDLes to admit the name. Although the American Inexual Professional League fans are struggling to identify one person, most WNBA fans are closely aware of Paige Buickers, Aneesah Morrow and Hailey Van Lith before playing the first professional match.
As a result, although a new CBA is negotiated, you do not expect the minimum age to be a point of disagreement.
“It has been mentioned, I don’t think it is a high priority,” Lixi Brown, the Seattle Braun goalkeeper at The Ringer Wnba Show last month. “Going out to the world at the age of 18 or 19 years as a young woman without a degree to go to exercise with unavailable contracts, it is a recipe for disasters.”
There is a reasonable discussion about whether the poker will be the first choice if each player in the college this season is eligible for the draft. The comprehensive Strong game, along with its youth, in the league that still passes through the post, makes it a confusing choice. The amazing Watercins skill and the power of the stars put it in that virtual conversation as well.
Currently, this exercise is still theoretical. Total basketball is still a more popular product, and WNBA can afford exclusive costs and close its doors to younger players with all the talents already in their ranks. The sub -group of players who can make the jump in early limited – very small to rewrite a full set of rules.
(Photos of Madison Booker and Sarah Strong: Alex Slitz / Getty Emociz, Joe Booglex / Getty Emoxz)