During the 2023-24 season, Juju Watkins shattered several records, scoring 920 points—more than any other freshman in NCAA Division I women’s basketball history.
Why can’t she enter the WNBA yet?
Despite all the talent JuJu Watkins has displayed, she will have to wait a little longer to join the WNBA. This is because league rules prohibit U.S. players from entering the draft before the year they turn 22.
This rule is very different from the NBA, where NCAA athletes have been allowed to leave college and turn professional for over 50 years.
Juju Watkins is only 19 years old and will turn 20 in July. That means, under current WNBA regulations, she won’t be eligible for the draft until 2027.
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WNBA draft eligibility rules
According to the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the WNBA and the players’ union, NCAA players eligible for the draft must meet one of the following criteria:
- Graduate from a four-year college within three months of the draft
- Be four years removed from high school graduation
- Turn 22 during the year of the draft
Additionally, international players must be at least 20 years old during the draft year.
This rule opens the door for other NCAA stars, such as UConn Huskies senior guard Paige Bueckers, who has a strong chance of becoming the No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft. At 23 years old, she is fully eligible for this year’s draft.
