Geno Auriemma, the esteemed coach of the UConn women’s basketball team, has voiced apprehensions regarding the potential adoption of a one-and-done rule in women’s college basketball. In an interview on ESPN Radio’s “UnSportsmanLike,” Auriemma expressed his belief that such a rule could “ruin the game.”

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“It depends whether you want the game to grow or you want to kill it,” Auriemma remarked, emphasizing the significance of nurturing talent within collegiate programs. He cited examples such as Caitlin Clark in Iowa and the legacy of his own players in Connecticut, suggesting that allowing athletes to depart after their freshman year, akin to men’s basketball, might lead to a transactional dynamic detrimental to the sport’s integrity.

“Everybody’s a free agent. Everybody’s a mercenary. It’s not the kids’ fault,” Auriemma lamented, noting the current system’s impact on the men’s game.

Presently, WNBA regulations permit players to enter the draft upon graduation or upon turning 22. While some, like Paige Bueckers, opt to remain in college for four years, exceptions exist, with certain players leaving early to pursue professional careers.

The discussion surrounding the appropriate timing for players to transition to the professional ranks resurfaces periodically, particularly when standout freshmen emerge. With players like Bueckers and Clark garnering national attention and capitalizing on name, image, and likeness opportunities, the necessity for early departure due to financial constraints has diminished.

Auriemma underscored that the current rules were established by the players themselves, expressing skepticism regarding potential alterations and fearing adverse consequences for the women’s college game.

As deliberations regarding eligibility rules persist, Auriemma’s reservations underscore the delicate equilibrium between player development, collegiate experience, and athletes’ professional aspirations in women’s college basketball.