The 2027 WNBA Draft lottery is just days away, and the basketball world is buzzing about where USC phenom JuJu Watkins will land. But here's the catch: Watkins won't actually step onto a WNBA court until after the 2026-27 college season, a delay that has frustrated many fans and even her own teammate.
In a recent interview with Front Office Sports, USC freshman Jazzy Davidson didn't hold back, calling the league's eligibility rules "a little bit outdated." Yet, she quickly balanced her criticism with praise for the college game, noting the value of education, relationships, and the overall NCAA experience.
"I definitely think that the eligibility rules right now are maybe a little bit outdated," Davidson said. "But there is something to say in the college experience in my opinion. I love the NCAA, I love college sports. I love going to school here at USC, getting an education, forming those relationships with my teammates. So, yeah, I'd have to think more on that, but it's hard for me to say."
Watkins has been a household name since her freshman year, when she averaged a staggering 27.1 points per game, earned consensus first-team All-American honors, and led the Trojans to their first Elite Eight in three decades. That 2023-24 squad finished ranked No. 5 nationally, but Watkins was still years away from WNBA eligibility.
She followed that up with an even more decorated sophomore campaign, sweeping the AP Player of the Year, Naismith College Player of the Year, John R. Wooden Award, and Dawn Staley Award. Once again, she powered USC to the Elite Eight and a No. 5 ranking, but the WNBA's age requirement kept her on campus.
Injuries sidelined Watkins for the entire 2025-26 season, and the Trojans stumbled to a second-round NCAA exit and an unranked finish. Now healthy and back for her senior year, Watkins has USC sitting at preseason No. 3, the highest-ranked team in the Big Ten.
The debate over WNBA eligibility isn't new, and Davidson's comments add another layer to the ongoing conversation. Some argue that stars like Watkins should be allowed to jump to the pros earlier, while others point to the benefits of college development. The league's current rule requires players to be at least 22 years old or have completed their college eligibility, a standard that has drawn criticism from players like Sage Steele, who called out a 'double standard' in media coverage of similar issues.
When Watkins finally enters the draft, the Toronto Tempo and the relocated Houston Comets (formerly the Connecticut Sun) are the favorites for the No. 1 pick. The Chicago Sky, Seattle Storm, Portland Fire, Los Angeles Sparks, and Phoenix Mercury also have decent odds. But for now, Watkins remains in college, and Davidson's words echo the frustration many feel about the current system.
"It's hard for me to say," Davidson admitted, but her stance is clear: the rules are behind the times, even if the college path still holds value. As the lottery approaches, all eyes will be on which team gets the chance to draft a generational talent—just a little later than some would like.
