If you’ve binged every one of Caitlin Clark’s record-breaking 3-pointers, followed her Iowa Hawkeyes Final Four runs, or stayed up late scrolling highlights of her latest triple-double, you’ve probably found yourself asking one burning question: When is Caitlin Clark Eligible for the Draft? As the most decorated women’s college basketball player since Breanna Stewart, Clark’s decision to enter the pros or return for another season has captivated fans, fantasy basketball players, and WNBA front offices alike.
This guide will walk you through every detail of her draft eligibility, from the WNBA’s core rules to the NCAA’s COVID-19 extra year policy, plus break down her 2023-24 season timeline, draft odds, and what her pro debut could look like. Whether you’re a die-hard Hawkeyes fan or just tuning in for the next big WNBA star, you’ll leave with a clear understanding of when Clark will step onto the pro court.
The Short Answer: When is Caitlin Clark Eligible for the Draft?
Caitlin Clark will be eligible for the 2024 WNBA Draft, set to take place in mid-April 2024, as long as she meets the league’s standard age and college eligibility rules and opts not to return for a fifth NCAA season. Born on January 22, 2002, Clark turns 22 by December 31, 2024, which meets the WNBA’s age requirement of being at least 22 that year. She is currently in her third full season of college eligibility, so she qualifies for early entry into the 2024 draft if she chooses to leave Iowa early. The only thing standing between her and a pro debut is her own decision about whether to chase more college records or jump straight to the WNBA.
Now that we’ve covered the quick answer to when is Caitlin Clark Eligible for the Draft, let’s break down the full WNBA eligibility rules to understand exactly how she qualifies.
Breaking Down the WNBA’s Official Draft Eligibility Rules
The WNBA has two clear paths to draft eligibility, and most college players qualify via the college-based track. The first path is age-based: you must be 22 years old or older on or before December 31 of the draft year, with no requirement to have played college basketball. The second path is college-based: you must have completed four full years of NCAA Division I eligibility, or filed an early entry declaration if you have three or fewer years of college eligibility left.
For Clark, the college-based path is the most relevant, since she has played three full seasons at Iowa and will have completed four years after the 2023-24 season ends. The age-based path also applies to her, since she hits the 22-year-old cutoff months before the 2024 draft, but she doesn’t need it because she’s already eligible via her college tenure.
Here’s a quick table comparing the two WNBA eligibility paths to make it easy to follow:
| Eligibility Path | Key Requirements | Who It Fits Best |
|---|---|---|
| Age-Based | 22 by Dec 31 of draft year, no college experience needed | International players, post-college athletes who skipped D1 basketball |
| College-Based | Completed 4 NCAA years, or filed early entry with 1-3 years left | Caitlin Clark, most top college basketball prospects |
The WNBA also requires early entry players to submit a formal declaration by a set deadline each year, which gives teams time to scout them and assign draft grades. Players can withdraw their declaration before the deadline if they don’t feel ready for the pros, which gives Clark plenty of flexibility to make her decision after the 2023-24 college season wraps up.
Beyond the WNBA’s core rules, one big factor that could shift Clark’s draft timeline is the NCAA’s COVID-19 extra year policy.
How the NCAA’s COVID-19 Extra Year Changes Her Options
Back in 2020, the NCAA granted all Division I student-athletes an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which cut short the 2020-21 season. This means any player who competed in the 2020-21 season—including Clark, who was a freshman that year—can choose to return for a fifth official college season in 2024-25 instead of entering the 2024 draft.
Clark has not yet made a public decision about the extra year, but she has told reporters she’s focused on winning a national title with the Hawkeyes during the 2023-24 season before thinking about her future. Many of her peers, like UConn’s Paige Bueckers, have opted to return for the extra year to chase more records and improve their draft stock, so Clark could follow suit.
Here’s a quick list of the pros and cons of returning for a fifth college season:
- Pro: Break even more NCAA women’s basketball records, including the all-time scoring and assists marks
- Pro: Earn additional name, image, and likeness (NIL) money from Iowa and national sponsors
- Con: Risk of career-altering injury that could delay her pro debut
- Con: Wait an extra year to start her WNBA career and earn a full pro salary
Even if Clark does return for a fifth season, she will still be eligible for the 2025 WNBA Draft, which will follow the same eligibility rules as the 2024 event. She’ll also have the option to declare early for the 2025 draft or withdraw if she changes her mind later in the year.
Once you understand the eligibility rules and extra year options, it’s important to map out the 2023-24 college season timeline to see when Clark will make her decision.
The 2023-24 College Season: Timeline for Her Draft Decision
The 2023-24 Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball season will wrap up in mid-March 2024, with the NCAA Tournament’s Final Four taking place in early April. This timeline lines up perfectly with the WNBA’s 2024 draft schedule, giving Clark plenty of time to make her decision after her college career ends.
The WNBA’s official early entry deadline for the 2024 draft is March 25, 2024, which gives Clark just a few weeks after the Big Ten Tournament ends to decide whether to enter the draft. If she misses the deadline, she will have to wait until the 2025 draft unless she withdraws her eligibility early.
Here’s a numbered list of key 2024 WNBA draft dates that fans and Clark’s team will be watching closely:
- Early Entry Application Deadline: March 25, 2024 (for U.S. college players)
- WNBA Draft Combine: April 10-11, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota
- 2024 WNBA Draft: April 15, 2024 at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center
- Rookie Training Camp: May 1, 2024 (for drafted players)
If Clark decides to enter the 2024 draft, she will be able to attend the combine, work out for interested WNBA teams, and meet with front office staff to discuss her draft slot. Even if she doesn’t declare early, she can still receive feedback from teams and make a final decision before the draft’s official deadline.
Another critical factor to consider is what would happen if Clark opts to return for a fifth college season instead of entering the 2024 draft.
What Happens If Caitlin Clark Opts to Return for a Fifth Year?
If Clark decides to use the NCAA’s extra year and return to Iowa for the 2024-25 season, she will skip the 2024 WNBA Draft and enter the 2025 event instead. This would give her another full season to add to her already historic college resume, which already includes multiple national player of the year awards and NCAA records.
As of January 2024, Clark is already the all-time leading 3-point shooter in NCAA Division I women’s basketball, and she’s just a few hundred points away from breaking Kelsey Plum’s all-time scoring record. A fifth season would let her add thousands more points, assists, and 3-pointers to her name, solidifying her status as the greatest women’s college basketball player of all time.
Here’s a small table of key records Clark could break during her fifth college season:
| Record | Current Mark | Clark’s 2023-24 Total (Jan 2024) |
|---|---|---|
| NCAA D1 Women’s All-Time Points | 3,527 (Kelsey Plum) | 3,210 |
| NCAA D1 Women’s All-Time Assists | 1,135 (Suzie McConnell) | 987 |
| NCAA D1 Women’s All-Time 3-Pointers | 496 (Taylor Robertson) | 512 |
Returning for a fifth season would also give Clark a chance to win her first national championship with the Hawkeyes, after they lost the 2023 title game to LSU. A national title would boost her draft stock even more, even though she’s already projected as a top-2 pick in either the 2024 or 2025 WNBA Draft.
Of course, Clark isn’t the only one paying attention to her draft eligibility—WNBA teams have been scouting her for years and are already preparing to make a play for her.
Which WNBA Teams Are Ready to Draft Caitlin Clark?
Every WNBA team has been scouting Clark since she broke onto the college scene as a freshman, and teams with top draft picks have already reached out to her camp to discuss their interest. The Indiana Fever, who held the worst record in the WNBA in 2023, have the first overall pick in the 2024 draft, and they’re widely expected to select Clark if she declares early.
The Fever have been rebuilding for the past two seasons, and adding Clark to their roster would instantly make them a playoff contender, as well as a fan favorite in the WNBA’s most popular market. Clark grew up in West Des Moines, Iowa, just a few hours from Indianapolis, so a draft to the Fever would be a homecoming for her.
Here’s a quick list of the top teams that could draft Caitlin Clark in the 2024 WNBA Draft:
- Indiana Fever: 1st overall pick, clear favorite to select Clark
- Los Angeles Sparks: 2nd overall pick, looking for a franchise star to lead their rebuild
- Dallas Wings: 3rd overall pick, have a strong supporting cast that would pair well with Clark’s playmaking
Even if Clark returns for a fifth season, she will still be the top prospect in the 2025 WNBA Draft, and every team in the league will be tracking her progress throughout the 2024-25 college season. Teams will likely hold onto their top draft picks in 2025 to try to land Clark, just like they’re doing in 2024.
Finally, let’s take a look at how fans and media outlets are reacting to the ongoing debate about when is Caitlin Clark Eligible for the Draft.
Fan and Media Reaction to Caitlin Clark’s Draft Eligibility
Since the question of when is Caitlin Clark Eligible for the Draft first surfaced, fans and media outlets have been obsessed with her decision. Social media platforms like TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram are filled with fan polls, highlight reels, and debates about whether she should enter the pros or stay in college.
Major sports outlets like ESPN, The Athletic, and Sports Illustrated have published dozens of articles about Clark’s draft eligibility, with analysts split on her best path forward. Some analysts argue she should enter the 2024 draft to start her pro career, while others say she should stay in college to break more records and win a national title.
A recent ESPN fan poll asked viewers whether Clark should enter the 2024 WNBA Draft or return for a fifth year, and the results were clear:
- 62% of fans think she should enter the 2024 draft
- 28% of fans think she should return for a fifth season
- 10% of fans are undecided about her decision
Clark’s NIL deals have also spiked since fans started asking about her draft eligibility, with her signing deals with Nike, State Farm, and other major brands. These deals could play a role in her decision, as she’ll earn more money during her fifth college season than she would as a rookie in the WNBA, at least in the short term.
At the end of the day, the decision of when Caitlin Clark will enter the WNBA draft comes down to her own personal goals and priorities. Whether she chooses to enter the 2024 draft or return for a fifth college season, she will go down as one of the greatest women’s college basketball players of all time, and her pro debut will be one of the most anticipated events in WNBA history. Fans, teams, and media outlets will all be watching closely as she makes her decision in the coming months.
If you want to stay up to date on every update about Caitlin Clark’s draft eligibility, follow her official Instagram account, the Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball Twitter page, or tune into ESPN’s coverage of the 2023-24 college basketball season to watch her break more records before she makes her pro debut. You can also check the WNBA’s official website for the latest draft eligibility rules and timeline updates.