March Madness is here, and on the women's side, fans will be locked into an uber-talented senior class full of star power.
This year's seniors are especially impressive in that they've enjoyed successful careers even afterthe COVID-19 pandemic seriously impacted their freshman season.As a result, they are some of the last athletes who received the option from the NCAA to return for an extra season of competition.
These players now face the decision of whether or not they will take advantage of the extra season or renounce their remaining college eligibility to declare for the 2024 WNBA Draft.
Which players are headed to the WNBA Draft and who is staying for the 2024-25 college basketball season? Here is a look at what we know about the decisions of some of the most notable stars.
MORE:Who has the top pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft?
Is Caitlin Clark entering the 2024 WNBA Draft?
Clark, a senior at Iowa, declared for the WNBA Draft on Thursday, Feb. 29.
"While this season is far from over and we have a lot more goals to achieve, it will be my last one at Iowa," Clark wrotein a letter to Iowa fans. "I am excited to be entering the 2024 WNBA Draft."
Clark is considered the consensus No. 1 prospect in this year's draft class.
MORE:What women's basketball legends have said about Caitlin Clark's WNBA future
Is Paige Bueckers entering the 2024 WNBA Draft?
Bueckers announced on UConn's senior night that she would be returning for the 2024-25 college basketball season. She was projected as a top-five pick in the 2024 draft.
"I know everybody wants me to address the elephant in the room," said Bueckers during her senior night speech. "Unfortunately, this will not be my last senior night here at UConn — I'm coming back!"
Bueckers was the consensus National Player of the Year as a freshman but has battled injuries throughout her career. She is a senior academically but a redshirt junior athletically, so she could even stick around for the 2025-26 season if she so chooses.
Is Cameron Brink entering the 2024 WNBA Draft?
Brink, a senior at Stanford, has officially declared for the 2024 WNBA Draft.
"My four years at Standford have been nothing short of life changing. I cannot begin to express my love for everyone I've met and everything I've learned in Palo Alto," Brink wrote in an announcement on social media.
"... I am excited to announce that I will be declaring for the 2024 WNBA Draft. Although I am excited for that next chapter, we still have unfinished business and so much to accomplish in my final season at Stanford."
In her freshman year, Brink and the Cardinal won a National Championship. She is one of the best defenders in college basketball and a projected top-five pick.
Is Angel Reese entering the 2024 WNBA Draft?
Reese is a senior at LSU but has not decided on her WNBA future. She will be honored at LSU's senior night but quoted the announcement by saying“Should I stay, should I go? I don’t know," along with a teary-eyed emoji.
After spending her first two seasons at Maryland, Reese transferred to LSU in 2022 and helped lead the Lady Tigers to the 2023 NCAA national title. Her WNBA decision could come at the end of LSU's season.
"Angel said when she came here, she'd stay for two years," LSU head coach Kim Mulkey said of Reese's future in Baton Rouge, La. "I'm just not the kind of coach to sit people down and influence them on what agents to pick or talk them out of what they want to do.
"[Reese and Hailey Van Lith] surely know they have the COVID year to come back and would be more than welcome but I try to stay away from having any kind of influential conversations."
Tracking seniors declaring for 2024 WNBA Draft
| Player | School | 2024 WNBA Draft |
| Georgia Amoore | Virginia Tech | Undecided |
| Cameron Brink | Stanford | Yes |
| Paige Bueckers | Connecticut | No |
| Kamilla Cardoso | South Carolina | Undecided |
| Caitlin Clark | Iowa | Yes |
| Aaliyah Edwards | Connecticut | Undecided |
| Nika Muhl | UConn | Yes |
| Angel Reese | LSU | Undecided |
| Hailey Van Lith | LSU | Undecided |
WNBA Draft eligibility, explained
NCAA players who are turning 22 years old in 2024 are eligible to renounce any remaining NCAA eligibility (including extra eligibility granted by the NCAA due to the pandemic) to opt into the 2024 WNBA Draft.
College seniors who have exhausted all eligibility are not required to renounce.
When is the deadline to declare for the 2024 WNBA Draft?
Players who are not competing in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament have until April 1 to renounce remaining college eligibility. Any player competing in the Elite Eight or beyond has until 48 hours after the conclusion of their final game to renounce.
NCAA COVID-19 extra eligibility, explained
In October 2020, the NCAA Division I Council decided to grant Winter sport student-athletes that competed during 2020-21 in Division I would receive an additional season of eligibility and an additional year in which to complete it.
Here is the explanation from the Division I Council's statement:
Winter sport student-athletes who compete during 2020-21 in Division I will receive both an additional season of competition and an additional year in which to complete it, the Division I Council decided. The same flexibility was provided to student-athletes after the spring season was canceled in 2020 and the fall season was seriously impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The pandemic will continue to impact winter sport seasons in ways we can't predict. Council members opted to provide for winter sport student-athletes the same flexibility given spring and fall sports previously," said then-Council chair M. Grace Calhoun.
