She's eligible because of her age. I think this is just for determining draft order for next spring's draft. It's only a big deal because we all know the first pick is going to be Stewie, so after tonight Stewie basically knows where she will be playing come May, and the actual draft is a formality for her.
Probably not - by the time of the draft everyone will know whether she has changed her mind so it would be silly to waste even a late round draft pick
Agreed. She's like Mighty Mouse. I think her stint with Team USA this past year (and the quality of her play) really elevated her and showed that she can shine on some of the biggest stages.
Don't forget the possibility of a big trade for the #1 pick. We could assume all year that Stewie is going to whoever wins the lottery tonight. Then, 10 minutes before the #1 pick is announced next April, another team could trade their best player (Taurasi, Delle Donne, Charles?) and their lower #1 pick for the #1 overall.
