Women's college basketball faces a potential shift in the WNBA draft eligibility rules, with concerns that allowing players to leave after just a year could harm the sport, according to UConn's Geno Auriemma. The success of players like Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers has boosted the sport's popularity, with LeBron James noting the growing star power in the women's game. Auriemma argues that early departures could be detrimental, contrasting the current WNBA eligibility rules with the one-and-done trend in men's college basketball.

• In 2022, graduating senior women's college players or those over 22 can enter the WNBA Draft.
• Men's college basketball players can turn pro after just one year of play prior to the NBA.

No significant counterarguments or complexities were mentioned in the article.

The debate over WNBA draft eligibility rules is ongoing, with a divide between maintaining the current system and potentially allowing earlier player departures.

Geno Auriemma's concerns highlight the delicate balance between nurturing talent in women's college basketball and the potential impact of aligning eligibility rules with the men's game, emphasizing the importance of considering the long-term growth and sustainability of the sport.