Extra year of eligibility for winter athletes

Yeah, that's the way I read it.  OSU could have those 3 gals come back if they wish too...assuming OSU gives them a scholarship...which sounds like they have no choice but to offer?

Too bad it wasn't retroactive back to the 2019-2020 winter sports teams instead....then Kat, Mic, et.al. could play again!

Finally, I like that it gives Goodman the opportunity to play in 2021-22, which would be great because it allows for Talia Von Oelhoffen to be her apprentice for a season (assuming Talia still signs to play at OSU...only a verbal commit so far).

oppps!  I am not sure if it applies to all current players or just seniors.

This is a game changer for many teams, including the Beavs in my opinion. The chance to have Aleah one more season while the rest of the guard situation would be pretty young, is big for the Beavs. I still have many questions about the official wording of this ruling.

The article states "any athlete who participates in a sport in the upcoming winter season". This would mean Aquino would not be eligible for the extra year (for those who mentioned her) unless she participated this winter. If those words are actually what the official ruling states, Kennedy could return mid to late season and still have 3 seasons to play. Originally we all thought it would be best for her to redshirt but this would change the need to use a redshirt season, as she would be given an extra year anyway. This would change how the team and coaches looked at her season and future.

I can see the problem for coaches though. That would mean the Beavs would have Taylor, Kennedy, Jelena, Taya, along with the possibility of Jovana and Ellie next year. Almost too much talent to go around. You couldn't blame Ellie and Jovana for wanting to stay around to work on their Masters degree, or you could see those with enough talent leaving to play in Europe or the WNBA. Basically, for me, way to many questions on just how this works.......and I still feel Kat is getting a bad break!!!!

Whether players decide to take advantage of that extra year would depend on their priorities and plans in respect to basketball in their lives. If a player priority was to give professional basketball a go, then they might have to consider to what level they had the potential to reach. Generally speaking it might depend on if they had a chance to get a WNBA roster spot so increasing their draft status would greatly influence how hight they were drafted. How high you are drafted impacts your odds of making the team. If they were second tier then it might just be better to get a one year jump on their over seas professional career.

Two players who really could have benefited from another year were Kat and Mik. Kat because she needed a good injury free season which she did not have her last two season at Oregon St. Mik because her Sr season was a real drop off from her Jr year. Her 3pr shooting percentage really hurt her draft status. I am sure Mik would have opted for one more year is it had been made available.

If Goodman has a good year she might not chose ot come back. If too many players chose another year it would create a log jam of players coming out the next year which would not only mean more players available for the draft but also entering the professional ranks overseas as well. Jovana Subasic might not consider coming back for one more year unless she can elevate her profile enough to be considered as a high draft pick the next season. The same for Mack. Unless they are going for a graduate degree staying another year for just basketball might not be in their best interests.Goodman is another matter entirely. She probably will have to wait for this season to play out before making any decision would make any sense.

Another aspect to consider is that elite underclass players might not chose to use that extra year, rather it would allow them to enter the draft when their class graduated. Another aspect to consider is if or how that extra year of eligebility would impact gradute transfers. This would give every player 5 years. I think they have done this because conditions do not give any assurance that the season might not be completed if even started. But this granting everyone an extra year might make every player eligible to become a grad transfer. That would create some real can of worms consequences for every player and the NCAA as a whole.

If Paige is half as good as everyone seems to think she is, why in the world would she stay at UConn for 5 years instead of 4, and then get started on her pro career?