TCU’s Hailey Van Lith has decided to stay in college for five years.Photo: Gerald Herbert/AP
Inside Gampel Pavilion, packed in Uconn’s senior knight in February 2024, PAIGE BUECKERS I took the microphone. “I know everyone wants to speak of an elephant in the room,” she told the crowd. “Unfortunately, this is not my last senior night in Uconn.” Along with him, she confirmed that she decided to come back for five years and last year with her.
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The extended qualification of Bueckers comes from the NCAA rules. In the NCAA rules, a student athlete who could compete in four seasons for five years spent an additional year for those who played in 2020-21 due to Covid-19 exemption. And due to the injury of 2022, the red shirt year led to the year. Many people guess that she stayed for a favorable NIL transaction. It is estimated to be about $ 1.5 million this season Bueckers claims that her decision is rooted in Uconn, her team members and coaches. “Family comrades, love here, I love team members, and love coaches,” she says.
In Uconn, the expanded university career was common, and Aubrey Griffin spent six years and Caroline Ducharme and AZZI Fudd were fifth. Nevertheless, a member of the Uconn coaching staff told The Guardian that injuries, not NIL or WNBA preparations, were followed.
relevant: Why didn’t middle school gave PAIGE Bueckers to Caitlin Clark?
Bueckers solved this problem while appearing in Sue Bird’s togethxr virtual panel, opposing NIL MONEY as the driving force of the fifth year. “Just look at the comments, ‘Yes, she is staying in college because she makes much more. [money] In college than WNBA [where the rookie maximum salary is $78,000]She said, “And you don’t know. You are making NIL in college, and once you arrive at WNBA, the approval will follow you through the salary you are already doing.
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Nevertheless, Bueckers’ decision led to discussion. Some of the social media criticized the age difference between 23 -year -old Uconn star and many competitors, and one X user said, “PAIGE BUECKERS is an adult who plays 18 -year -old basketball.” It is more and more normalized to maintain the extra year, but the dialogue related to the extended qualifications and the story attached to it does not show signs of fading.
Hailey van Lith, a fifth -year senior of TCU, faced a similar investigation. She recently pushed criticism at a press conference. “It’s just a new standard. Now it’s fun to see people responding and negatively. But when I analyze it, I feel frustrated that many opportunities have not gained that opportunity. I will not make me feel bad because people have blessed the opportunity to play for five years.”
And she is not wrong, which can be a “blessing” for players. The combination of NIL opportunities, academic development, and draft equity improvement has caused incomprehensible changes in women’s college basketball. Kentucky Guard Georgia Amoore says: “I think everyone has his own reason. [for staying in college for five years] And I saw a variety of things, but it was mainly for more development. [before playing in the WNBA]. ”
Despite the noise, Van Lith is still hard. “I think that people are only saying that because they are one of the people who are paying much attention. [like] It takes 5 years. ”
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And the number backs up her. Seven days after the transfer portal opened, as of March 2025, more than 1,100 Division I Women’s University basketball players participated, and many of them became the elderly. Among them, Notre Dame’s star player, Olivia Miles, was not expected to be two picks in the draft for five years.
The focus of a female university basketball marked with repetitive year and mass transfer is not incidental. It indicates that it is out of the traditional structure of the university. In comparison, in a male basketball where players can declare the NBA in a year, the program is urging male athletes to stay longer.
But there are many more reasons for male athletes to rush to NBA than to join the WNBA. At first there are more opportunities. In the NBA, 60 draft picks are distributed to 30 teams. WNBA has spread 39 of the 13 teams. The minimum value of the NBA’s rookie is a little over $ 1 million, but in WNBA, it is less than $ 80,000. The popularity and profits of WNBA are increasing thanks to the inflow of stars such as Caitlin Clark and Angel ReeSE, but NBA commissioner Adam Silver I recognized the financial struggle of WNBAIn the 2024 statement, “This season, [league] I will lose $ 40 million. ”
The WNBA’s low -end and limited practice facilities and athlete facilities have an important incentive for athletes to expand their college career, and have checked whether the league is expanding before the league is pro. And it’s not just a trend to provide only 39 draft spots every time, and NCAA women’s basketball seniors compete with them. Strategic decision.
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Also, WNBA has been set as a new negotiation. Collective bargaining agreement Due to the increase in the value of the league. According to NNEKA OGWUMIKE WNBPA, this contract will bring significant changes, including the expansion of franchise. Two teams have been added -Expation limit, improved working conditions, additional player benefits and most important are stakes in WNBA for players. Incentives are presented to the elderly who consider the fifth year. By maintaining the extra season, they can not only secure a bigger and more advantageous transaction in the short term, but also enter the early 2026 draft in accordance with more advantageous financial contracts, and in the end they receive higher salaries than this year’s declaration.
For some players, the decision is not calculated and may want to win the NCAA Championship. AMOORE revered this feeling. Last month, she said, “I trusted the Brooks coach for four years and is in a successful position.” So with his movement [from Virginia Tech to Kentucky] And the challenge to compete in a talented meeting with the new team was a huge jump I would like to be willing. ”
In the case of AMOOORE, the decision to stay in college is not about competition, not competition. “I knew it would challenge me in every way,” she says. “And in court, it will get better during the period.”
Meanwhile, Io and Senior Kylie Feuerbach decided to return to “a chance to play with my best friend and amazing fanbase.”
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For some people, the decision was not led by dedication or even a lot of thoughts. Family famous for her determination, Fudd made it clear in front of the declaration window.
Uconn’s coach Geno Auriemma even gave her even a last time and asked for an answer within 48 hours after the Big East tournament.
“I think she will do it [come back]. I think Azi will do it [return]Auriemma said: “But once again, I was no longer a voice in her ears.
One of the voices was to return Ducharme. Ducharme said, “Occasionally, ‘So is it closer to the decision?’ Heartforand. “One day, I asked when we were in the bathtub. And she said, ‘I made a decision not to tell anyone.”
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Only two weeks later, the fudd took it Instagram To post a pleasant photo on the Uconn scoreboard: A game with 31 points a week with 101 points. She captured the picture.
Fudd will return for five years, like many others.
