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USC women’s basketball star JuJu Watkins is already the best player in the college game, winning both the Wooden and Naismith player of the year awards this season.
But she won’t hear her name called on Monday night’s WNBA draft.
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Watkins, who led USC to a No. 1 seed before suffering a season-ending ACL tear in the Round of 32 against Mississippi State, averaged 23.9 points with 6.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists in her second college season. The 6-foot-2 guard is destined to be one of the top picks of the draft eventually, given she recovers from her injury.
REQUIRED READING: WNBA mock draft roundup 2025: Expert predictions for first round after Paige Bueckers
Bueckers, who also recovered from an ACL tear in college, is the overwhelming favorite to go No. 1 to the Dallas Wings on Monday night.
Here’s when Watkins will be eligible for the WNBA draft:
JuJu Watkins WNBA draft eligibility
Watkins isn’t eligible for the 2025 WNBA Draft, as she just completed her sophomore year of college at USC.
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The superstar guard won’t be eligible until 2027, after she completes her fourth and final year of college as a senior. WNBA rules note players aren’t eligible for the draft until they either turn 22 in the year they’re drafted or graduate college at least within three months of the draft.
Players can also enter the draft if they’re four years removed from high school graduation. International prospects are eligible once they turn 20 years old.
JuJu Watkins stats
Here are Watkins’ season-by-season per-game averages in college:
2023-24: 27.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists per game on 40.1% shooting. 2.3 steals and 1.6 blocks per game.
2024-25: 23.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists on 42.6% shooting. 2.2 steals and 1.8 blocks per game.
When is the 2025 WNBA Draft?
Location: The Shed at Hudson Yards (New York City)
The 2025 WNBA Draft will start at 7:30 p.m. ET on Monday, April 14, from The Shed at Hudson Yards in New York City.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: JuJu Watkins WNBA draft eligibility: When can USC star be drafted?
