Geno Auriemma once made his feelings known on a potential one-and-done rule in women’s college basketball. The UConn coach discussed the controversial topic on an episode of the ESPN radio show “UnSportsmanLike” in April 2024.
Men’s and women’s college basketball vary in their rules regarding players leaving to play professionally. Men can be “one-and-dones,” meaning they can declare for the NBA draft following their freshman season. Women, on the other hand, cannot head to the WNBA until they graduate from college, are within three months of graduating, or in the calendar year they turn 22.
Auriemma argues that the lack of a one-and-done rule in women’s college basketball is what has allowed the women’s game to grow. He pointed to Clark, who spent four seasons at Iowa before becoming the No. 1 pick in the 2024 WNBA draft.
“It depends whether you want the game to grow or you want to kill it. If you want to kill it, then let the kids leave after freshman year,” Auriemma said.
“On the men’s side, it’s become transactional. Everybody’s a free agent,” he added. “Everybody’s a mercenary. It’s not the kids’ fault. … To me, what helped the women’s game grow is the people in Iowa got to grow up with Caitlin Clark. The people of Connecticut got to grow up with all of my great players. There’s something to be said for that.”
Caitlin Clark guided her Hawkeyes to the national title game in her senior season, and the matchup against South Carolina was the most-watched women’s college basketball game ever, with 18.7 million viewers.
In recent years, the women’s game has generated a number of stars who have become household names, including Clark and Paige Bueckers. Auriemma believes that the growth of the women’s game would be stunted if players were able to go pro after their first season.
Caitlin Clark drafts her WNBA All-Star team
Caitlin Clark’s stardom has extended beyond Iowa. The Indiana Fever guard has been selected as a WNBA All-Star captain after she received a record-breaking 1,293,526 fan votes.
Clark drafted her team for the upcoming All-Star game alongside fellow captain Napheesa Collier on ESPN Tuesday. The guard was awarded the first pick thanks to her record-breaking votes.
The Fever star utilized the top pick to select teammate Aliyah Boston. She added New York’s Sabrina Ionescu, three-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson and Phoenix forward Satou Sabally to complete her starting five.
Caitlin Clark has decided on her All-Star squad and will look to guide the team to victory in the WNBA All-Star game on July 19.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in football, basketball, and more!
