What if JuJu Watkins could have declared for the draft in 2025? She'd likely be the newest member of the LA Sparks, teaming up with Cameron Brink to help turn the struggling franchise around.
But, of course, with the current WNBA draft eligibility rules, Watkins wasn’t able to declare for the draft and has two more years left at USC..
While Portland fans are starting to dream about our first regular draft pick in 2026, now is the perfect time to consider the eligibility rules. The rules the league sets will impact what players we can target, when we can draft them, and how ready they’ll be to contribute to a championship run once they’re on Portland’s roster.
So, let’s take an in-depth look at the current draft eligibility rules, then talk through what might change, when the changes might happen… and whether or not we agree those changes are the right move.
The WNBA’s draft eligibility rules are a unique beast. They’re nothing like the NBA’s system, which lets 19-year-old phenoms jump straight to the pros after a single college season. The W has way stricter requirements. So, what exactly are those requirements?
As of writing in Summer 2025, there are three ways for US-born players to become draft-eligible:
The rules are a little different for international players. These players only need to turn 20 during the draft year, giving them a two-year head start over their American counterparts.
Now that we’ve refreshed ourselves on the current draft eligibility rules, let’s take a moment to dreamcast — what might the WNBA look like if we saw changes to the current requirements?
If the WNBA took an approach more similar to the NBA, allowing younger players to join the league, the franchises that are currently struggling to find their footing would benefit the most.
Instead of hoping a 22-year-old senior pans out, teams could draft 19- and 20-year-old superstars, snapping them up in those early draft rounds. For franchises like the Sparks and Sky, who've been searching for that next cornerstone player, landing hometown heroes or perfect-fit prospects two years early could fast-track their rebuilds.
With a new Collective Bargaining Agreement set to be negotiated after the 2025 season (the current one expires October 31, 2025), there's actually a window for the WNBA and players' union to revamp these rules before the 2026 draft. CBA negotiations are when leagues typically make major structural changes, and draft eligibility might just be on the table.
The business case for changing the rules is obvious. Younger stars mean longer career arcs, more jersey sales, and more established fan bases. Bringing the hot new talent in earlier could bring more attention (and money) to the league.
Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has been vocal about wanting "iconic rivalries" that drive viewership and create must-see TV. What's more iconic than Watkins vs. Paige Bueckers, or Clark going head-to-head with Angel Reese twice a year? College basketball has already done the heavy lifting of building these storylines. Why not capitalize on that energy while it's hot?
Now that we’ve just gotten you all excited about a potential rule change, it’s time to kill the vibe and talk about why the rules (probably) won’t be changing any time soon.
First and foremost, because the union says no.
The WNBPA's job isn't to help future players, it's to protect the women who are already in the league. And younger players entering the draft early would be a direct threat to veteran jobs.
Do the math with me. Even with the league's aggressive expansion plans (going from 144 roster spots to 156, then 168, and eventually 180), we're still talking about incredibly scarce opportunities. That's only 36 additional jobs spread across multiple seasons for a sport where hundreds of college players dream of going pro every year.
Every 19-year-old phenom who gets drafted is potentially taking a roster spot from a 28-year-old veteran who's been grinding in the league for years. The WNBPA represents that veteran, not the college sophomore who isn't even a member yet. Union leadership would be failing their actual constituents if they agreed to flood the market with younger, cheaper talent.
But it’s not just the union saying “ehhhhh” to changing the rules. The league isn’t too sure about it, either.
Yes, Commissioner Engelbert wants those iconic rivalries and explosive growth, but changing the eligibility rules might not be the right way to do it.
College basketball is an incredible proving ground for new players. It's where social media darlings either prove they can handle real competition or get exposed as overhyped. Four years of college evidence gives teams the confidence they need when they're about to invest massive capital into a prospect.
Social media followers don't always translate to "millions of eyeballs" watching games, and the league knows this. College basketball does the hard work of separating genuine stars from viral moments, and that's valuable intel the WNBA isn't eager to give up.
Okay, okay, we’ve talked about the union and the league… but how do the players feel about the eligibility rules?
Tons of college kids would jump at the chance to go pro early if the rules changed, but most players are actually better off staying in college longer, especially in today's NIL landscape.
College basketball is a brand-building machine. Most women’s college basketball players stay at one school for multiple years, allowing them to build dedicated fan bases. The “Caitlin Clark Effect” wasn’t built in a single season, after all.
NIL opportunities are absolutely massive now. JuJu Watkins already has "high-profile endorsements" as a college player, and those deals will only get bigger and more lucrative as she continues tearing up record books.
Why rush to a league where the supermax salary is $230,000 when you can build a multi-million-dollar brand in college first?
Also, there’s the physicality of the league to consider. NBA prospects who get drafted at 19 literally take multiple years to find their footing. So, for players, coming into the league at 22 with a solid build, ready to compete on a physical level with the vets, is a big deal, too.
Let's be realistic about the chances of draft eligibility reform: it's not happening anytime soon, and Portland fans shouldn't waste time hoping for it.
Even with CBA negotiations coming after the 2025 season, too many powerful stakeholders benefit from keeping things exactly as they are. The players' union wants to protect veteran jobs, the league wants proven commodities over risky teenagers, and college players are making bank with NIL deals. Why would any of them push for change?
Changing these rules would require the WNBPA to vote against their own members' interests, the league to accept more risk in their draft picks, and college stars to give up lucrative brand-building years. That's not happening in the next CBA cycle, or probably the one after that.
Let’s bring it home: how do the draft eligibility rules impact the future of Portland’s team? We’ll enter the regular draft for the first time in 2027, and, honestly, the current system might actually work in our favor.
As a second-year expansion team, Portland will almost certainly have a top ten pick in the 2026 draft. New franchises typically struggle in year one (just look at Golden State's growing pains this season), which means we'll likely be picking in the top half of the first round in the 2027 draft, as well.
A few reasons why the current eligibility rules actually benefit Portland:
So, assuming the rules don’t change, who should we be keeping our eye on for 2027?
Current freshmen and sophomores will likely be eligible for the 2027 draft. That includes names like:
Portland's front office should be building relationships with these players and their programs right now. Tracking prospects, attending games, and getting to know the players takes time, and the current system gives us the time to do that homework properly.
At the end of the day, I think our outlook is better if the rules stay as they are. We want proven talent with documented success on the court, as well as an established brand and fan base off the court that they can bring with them to Rose City.
But we want to know what you guys think!
Do you think the WNBA should lower the age limit to let players like JuJu Watkins and Hannah Hidalgo declare early? Or are you happy waiting for more developed talent who've proven themselves over four college seasons?
Want to stay ahead of every Portland WNBA development? We've got draft breakdowns, prospect profiles, and insider analysis coming your way as we build toward 2026 and beyond. From expansion draft predictions to scouting reports on the college players who could anchor our franchise, PDX Bounce is your #1 source for everything Portland WNBA.
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