The Women’s NCAA Tournament is over, and the champions have been crowned. While most of the focus was on the professional prospects, there were a few college stars who shined brightest and caught the eye of WNBA scouts. While some players have turned their impressive tournament runs into a chance to play in the WNBA and make a name for themselves, others will continue to wait per WNBA draft rules.
Read on to learn all about the biggest stars from this year’s Women’s NCAA Tournament and who will be eligible for the 2022 WNBA Draft.
WNBA Draft Eligibility
The WNBA draft is a highlight for many female college athletes. With only 12 WNBA teams in the league and just 32 selections, the draft is incredibly competitive.
To be eligible for the WNBA draft, players must have completed their college eligibility and be at least 22 years old during the calendar year of the draft. This is vastly different than NBA rules, where a player must have one year of college or other experience and be turning 19 the year of the draft.
This year’s tournament had several standout seniors who became eligible for the 2022 WNBA Draft. But not all can make the cut.
This Year’s Biggest College Women’s Hoops Stars
While there were many impressive players in this year’s tournament, a few stars shined brightest. However, many of the top stars saw their teams eliminated early in the NCAA Women’s Tournament. The list of stars making early exits included NaLyssa Smith (Baylor) and Elissa Cunane (NC State).
Of the teams that made it to the Final Four, there was plenty of talent to go around. Some notable names included Aliyah Boston (South Carolina), who was named both the Naismith Women’s Player of the Year and the Defensive Player of the Year. However, she is not yet draft eligible.
Other draft-eligible stars included Lexie Hull (Stanford) and Christyn Williams (UConn). As a senior, Hull led her team in steals and helped propel them through the tournament. Williams drew attention for keeping her team on track while star player Paige Bueckers was sidelined with an injury.
The Year of the Sophomore
Last year they made waves in “the year of the freshman,” and this year there was no sophomore slump as Caitlin Clark (Iowa) and Bueckers continued to impress.
Last season’s AP Player of the Year and the Naismith College Player of the Year (the first to be awarded both titles in the same season), Bueckers made her way back from injury to dazzle in the tournament.
However, Bueckers and Clark are two of the more notable players who will not be eligible for the WNBA Draft until 2023. This means we can hope for more exciting tournaments featuring these young athletes.
Women’s NCAA Tournament Results
The Women’s NCAA Tournament is always an exciting event for college basketball fans. This year’s tournament did not disappoint, with upsets, close games, and thrilling finishes. The South Carolina Gamecocks were the eventual champions, beating out an elite UConn team.
However, it’s notable how many top draft prospects were not featured heavily in this year’s tournament. The year’s top overall prospect, Rhyne Howard, saw her No. 6-seed team bounced early in the first round by 11-seed Princeton. However, that disappointment did not hurt her individual stock.
Other top prospects played for Baylor, a 2-seed team that similarly shocked fans with an exit in the second round after losing to 10-seed South Dakota.
2022 WNBA Draft Class
The 2022 WNBA Draft class was one of the more competitive in years, featuring many eligible talented players. Both Baylor and UConn, two of the top women’s teams in the NCAA, saw three of their players drafted.
However, the first overall pick, as anticipated, was Rhyne Howard. Although we didn’t get much of an opportunity to see her compete in the tournament, the star guard was a consensus top pick. The Atlanta Dream, who drafted Howard, is expected to rebuild the franchise around this talented young player.
In terms of players whose tournament exposure may have boosted their profile, look no further than the No. 6 pick Lexie Hull. The Stanford guard has been a bit of a dark horse, and many were surprised to see her selected so early in the draft. But it was Lexie’s team-leading 20 points that propelled her team to a victory in the Elite Eight.
Therefore, her additional exposure may have helped nab her a higher draft spot. An interesting note in this storyline is that Lexie’s teammate at Stanford was her identical twin sister, Lacie. Both announced they were forgoing their final year of eligibility at Stanford, but Lacie did not declare for the draft.
Takeaways
The 2022 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament was chock full of talent. And of the many skilled athletes, only some were eligible for the WNBA Draft. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the 2022 WNBA Draft was such an eventful one, with many talented players looking to make their mark in the league. We can’t wait to see what’s in store for these college athletes as they make the transition to the pros.