Paige Bueckers spoke on UConn’s senior night in February 2024 in Gampel Pavilion, where there were a lot of people there. “I know everybody wants me to address the elephant in the room,” she said to the crowd. The senior stated, “Unfortunately, this will not be my final senior night at UConn.” After that, she made it abundantly clear that this would be her fifth and final season as a Huskie. The NCAA’s rules give student-athletes five years to play in four seasons. The COVID-19 waiver gives those who played in 2020-21 an additional year. Bueckers’ eligibility is extended as a result. In addition, Bueckers was given another season after suffering an injury in 2022 that forced him to redshirt the following year. Bueckers insists that her decision was based on loyalty to UConn, her teammates, and her coaches, despite speculation that she stayed for lucrative NIL deals, which are estimated to be worth approximately $1.5 million this season. “Family camaraderie,” “loving it here,” “loving my teammates,” and “loving my coaches” are some of the ways she describes it. Aubrey Griffin attended college for six years, Caroline Ducharme for five, and Azzi Fudd for one. At UConn, long college careers of this kind are now common. However, a UConn coach who spoke with the Guardian said that injuries were more influential than NIL or WNBA readiness in these decisions. Bueckers addressed the issue and refuted the notion that NIL money is the driving force behind her fifth year during an appearance on Sue Bird’s Together virtual panel. She stated, “You just look at the comments and it’s like, “Yeah, she’s just staying in college because she’s gonna make so much more [money] in college than in the WNBA [where the rookie maximum salary is $78,000]” When you get to the WNBA, in addition to the salary you already earn, those endorsements will follow you. In college, you make nothing. Self-education is not difficult at all. Despite this, the decision made by Bueckers sparked discussion. “Paige Bueckers is an adult about to be playing basketball with 18-year-olds,” a user on X wrote, pointing out the age gap between the UConn star, who is 23 years old, and many of her rivals. There is still a lot of talk about extended eligibility and the stories that go along with it, even though staying an additional year is becoming more common. Hailey Van Lith, a senior at TCU, has been the subject of similar scrutiny. She responded to the criticism during a recent press conference. “It’s just the new norm, just what will happen now. It is amusing to observe how people react and think negatively about it, but when you think about it, a lot of it comes down to frustration that they were unable to participate. Because I was fortunate enough to play for five years, I won’t let others make me feel bad. She is correct; this possibility may be a “blessing” for players. NIL opportunities, academic advancement, and the ability to raise draft stock have unquestionably changed women’s college basketball. Kentucky guard Georgia Amoore says, “I think everyone had their reasons [for staying in college for five years] and I’ve seen a variety of them, but mine was primarily for more development [before playing in the WNBA].” Despite the noise, Van Lith does not back down. I believe that people are only saying that about me because I am one of the people they are paying a lot of attention to. There are a lot of fifth-year girls, and there are a lot of fifth-year girls who are having a lot of success like I am. Additionally, the numbers back her up. As of March 2025, just seven days after it opened, more than 1,100 Division I female college basketball players, many of whom are seniors, had entered the transfer portal. One of them is an unexpected fifth-year transfer from Notre Dame star Olivia Miles, who was expected to be the draft’s No. 2 pick. This increased focus on women’s college basketball, which has seen a lot of transfers and teams play the same year after year, is not just a coincidence. It breaks from the usual way college basketball is structured. In contrast, in men’s basketball, where players can declare for the NBA after just one year, programs are increasingly encouraging male athletes to stay in the sport for longer. Female athletes, on the other hand, have significantly fewer reasons to join the WNBA than male athletes do to rush into the NBA. To begin, there are more opportunities. 60 draft picks are awarded to 30 NBA teams. With 39 picks, there are only 13 WNBA teams. Additionally, while the NBA’s rookie minimum is slightly more than $1 million, the WNBA’s rookie minimum is less than $80,000. The NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has acknowledged the league’s financial difficulties, stating in a statement from 2024, “This season, the [league] will lose $40 million.” This is even though the arrival of stars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese has increased the WNBA’s popularity and revenue. Due to the WNBA’s low salaries, limited practice facilities, and player amenities, athletes have a strong incentive to prolong their college careers before going pro. Because there are only 39 draft spots available each season and a surplus of NCAA women’s basketball seniors competing for them, staying an additional year is not just a trend. This is a crucial choice. The WNBA will also be negotiating a new Collective Bargaining Agreement due to the league’s rising value. According to Nneka Ogwumike, president of the WNBPA, this agreement will bring about significant change, including players receiving a share of the WNBA equity, an increased salary cap, improved working conditions, additional player benefits, and the expansion of the franchise with the addition of two new teams. Seniors considering a fifth-year benefit from this as a motivator. If they remain for an additional season, they may be able to secure larger and more lucrative NIL deals in the short term. They can also go into the draft in 2026 with a better financial plan and end up with a higher salary than if they declare this year. For some players, whose motivation may not be as calculated, the decision may simply be motivated by a desire to win an NCAA championship. Amoore agreed with this. “I’ve trusted Coach Brooks for four years, and he’s put me in positions to succeed,” she stated last month. “As a result, it was a huge leap I was willing to take with his move from Virginia Tech to Kentucky and the challenge of competing against a brand-new team in that talented conference,” I said. Amoore’s decision to stay in school was influenced by both his personal growth and competition. “I knew it would challenge me in every way,” she says. On and off the court, I was going to get better, period. Iowa senior Kylie Feuerbach said that “the opportunity to play with my closest friends and our incredible fanbase” was the sole reason she decided to return. Some people gave the decision very little thought or devotion. “I’ll see about a fifth year,” Fudd, who is well-known for her indecisiveness, made it abundantly clear well before the declaration window. Even Geno Auriemma, UConn’s head coach, gave her a deadline to respond to him within 48 hours of the Big East Tournament. “I think she will [come back].” “I think Azzi will [return],” Auriemma stated. However, I no longer serve as her primary source of communication. Several voices now speak. One of those voices was the returning Senior Ducharme. I’d occasionally ask, “So, are you any closer to making a decision?” “One day, when we were in the tubs, I just asked her, and she said, “Don’t tell anyone, but I did make the decision,”” Ducharme told the Hartford Courant. Two weeks later, Fudd posted a picture to Instagram of her laughing happily at the UConn scoreboard, which read: Arkansas State wins by 101 points to 31 points, even though she scored 27 points in the game. “Hey Gampel, I appreciate last night… Under the picture’s caption, she wrote, “See you next year #onemoreyear.” Along with many others, Fudd would be returning for the fifth time.
