Today we are covering…the transfer portal

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about a number of changes that we are seeing play out to this day. Healthy habits by some, side hustles, new relationships, and for women’s college basketball…more attention through the avenues of NIL and the transfer portal.

The transfer portal creates a fresh start for student athletes who may have committed to a university when they couldn’t even legally drive yet and are now wanting to give themselves a second chance. Who’s to blame them?

Isn't it funny how our society sets different age limits for various activities? You can't cast a ballot until you reach 18, can't enjoy a cold one until you're 21, but we permit kids to commit to a university to pursue their passion for sports at any age. While it may seem like a dream come true for young athletes, committing to a college between the ages of 14 and 17 may lead to some regretful moments when they finally set foot on campus as 18-year-olds and see what's behind the curtain.

Why are so many players transferring?

There are a number of reasons why players can enter into the transfer portal and we are going to cover the main ones.

1. Head coach/coaching staff

   • When recruits are being wooed in high school, coaches put on quite the show with all the bells and whistles. But once training starts, reality sets in and sometimes the grass isn't as green as it seemed and coaches aren’t as enjoyable as they seem. That's when a player might realize they need a fresh start with a coaching staff who better understands them as a person and the way they like to play.

2. NIL opportunities

   • With the introduction of Name Image and Likeness, college athletes can now cash in on their fame and some are becoming millionaires before they can even legally drink. We are now seeing more 20 and under millionaires than we ever have before. How nice. If a player knows they can make more money or get better deals by going to a different school, they might just jump ship.

3. Playing time

   • More often than not, coaches are spending their time and energy recruiting players who carried their high school teams to championships and were well loved by their home towns. The “It-Girl”. (or them) And then they arrive on campus with other 4 star and 5 star recruits and realize they may not be as good as they thought and their egos take a hit. They won't admit it out loud, but they'll enter the portal in search of more playing time.

4. Attention

   • Nowadays, attention is everything. The more attention you get, the higher your personal stock price. Let’s be honest, nothing is more dramatic than in the midst of March Madness, a big name kid announcing they are entering the portal. Oh you don’t like the coverage Caitlin Clark is getting during the tournament? Time to enter the portal! BOOM! Temporary attention and a new set of clothes and fresh NIL deals.

Biggest shocks to date

Post 2022-2023 season, there have been more names enter the transfer portal than before. And this year, we are are seeing BIG names enter the portal. Here are the biggest names:

• Hailey Van Lith - formerly Louisville

  • The biggest shock of them all. HVL was the voice of this program throughout the last 3 years. Previously manifested by the She Scores team first, the rumors are speculating that she will join Kim Mulkey and the Lady Tigers this season.

• Sedona Prince - formerly University of Oregon

  • Prince is most known for her TikTok 2 years ago broadcasting the stark differences between the men and women’s NCAA March Madness treatment. Now, she has transferred to TCU.

• Jayda Curry - formerly University of California, Berkley

  • She has now transferred to Louisville - possible HVL’s replacement…

• Ashely Owusu - formerly Virginia Tech

  • There was much controversy around Owusu during March Madness this year. She was expected to be a huge contributor this season, but during the tournament Twitter came alive and rumors began to surface about her relationship with the coaching staff and players, as well as the true reason behind her initial bench situation.

• Aneesah Morrow - formerly DePaul University

  • Where she goes has been the most anticipated. Her current top 3 schools include: University of South Carolina, LSU, and USC.

Check out this live transfer portal tracker from Just Women’s Sports.

All that to say

One final point on the transfer portal drama: What’s going on at Stanford? A surprise to some, but not on the list and not taking over Twitter at this time, is the recent exodus from members of the Stanford Cardinals team. Tara VanDerveer is one of the greatest head coaches we have seen over the last 20 years and this is the first time we have seen multiple players leave her program at once. We’ll be staying alert on this one, it seems like there is more to come.

Is the transfer portal negative for the game? Eh, not so much. Have recent changes allowed for an excessive amount of transfers to pour in year over year? Yes. But, it's only fair to allow student-athletes to change their minds when it comes to making such a big life decision that can also impact their financial situation in life changing ways.

However, if a player has transferred more than once, it's not the coach's fault, it's not the other players' fault, it's not the playing time, it's not the weather, it's not the food - it's the player and their lack of discipline.