2026 Transfer portal

[Charliebball]

For the record, Crooks turns 22 in December, which makes her eligible for this year’s WNBA draft. But it’s hardly a slam dunk that she could thrive, or even survive in the W.

As I pointed out in another post, Iowa St has built their offense around getting Crooks 20-30 touches in the low post every game. There is no guarantee that another school would accommodate a similar offense, particularly for a one year rental.

Finally, if Crooks decides to stay at Iowa St for one more year, it seems that she would do so with many/all of her teammates heading for the exits. So her decision is a very difficult one, with no guarantee of success.

I'm fond of Ms Crooks and appreciate her game, but I really doubt it will translate to the WNBA where bigs need to be mobile, play defense and have some semblance of an outside shot to stick......

 

[HuskyNan]

 

[EricSD]

She may be eligible for the draft but, she is not ready for the WNBA yet.

I'm not sure Audi will ever succeed in the WNBA. Audi is 6'2" or 6'3". Compare her to Courtney Paris. Paris was a better college player and at least 1" taller. Paris lasted 9 years in the W, but only played 16 MPG averaging just under 5 PPG. And there was just less talent/elite players in the W back in Paris' day. I couldn't see Crooks scoring over bench center Yeru, never mind all the elite starters in the W.

Maybe with the expansions and more room for players, Crooks could find a place, but she's one of the most immobile players I've ever seen. I hesitate to call her lazy, but she stands around not moving about 90% of the time she's on the floor. If she gets a rebound, it's because it fell into her lap. Sure she's hard to stop once she gets the ball in the post close to the basket, but I just don't see her having much success in the WNBA.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

So they moved the portal window because it was a distraction during the tournament. I don’t think that worked. 🤣

 

[cancontent]

I don't know why they thought this would change anything.

So they moved the portal window because it was a distraction during the tournament. I don’t think that worked. 🤣

 

[BRS24]

another one ... up to 8 now

 

[ISUnorth]

another one ...

New Bill Fennelly theme music should be be Exodus by Bob Marley. The tune is in MY head right now. 🙄

 

[oldude]

The exodus at Iowa St could be for many different reasons. But just like USC last year, I don’t think most players want to play basketball on a team where their primary responsibility is to feed the ball to their star player and then watch her try to score. Whether it’s Watkins or Crooks, it’s not fun playing second fiddle to the designated star on a team.

 

[cancontent]

New Bill Fennelly theme music should be be Exodus by Bob Marley. The tune is in MY head right now. 🙄

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Don't drag that classic into this!!!!!

 

[JellyBean]

another one ... up to 8 now

Dang!! This is like the 7th player?

 

[southie]

The exodus at Iowa St could be for many different reasons. But just like USC last year, I don’t think most players want to play basketball on a team where their primary responsibility is to feed the ball to their star player and then watch her try to score. Whether it’s Watkins or Crooks, it’s not fun playing second fiddle to the designated star on a team.

That could be a reason. But, USC has had no problems bringing in elite high school recruits for 2025 and 2026 to play with JuJu; obviously, a few players from their 2024 class did transfer out. Iowa State, meanwhile, is not recruiting close to how they were 2 or 3 years ago.

Personally, I think Fennelly is very old school and yelling at players during practices and games is not sitting well with this generation of players. Not sure how close that is to verbal abuse, but it takes thick skin to deal with that day in and day out.

 

[jdote33]

Crazy I was literally about to write a comment about how the portal already has so much talent and that a team like UCLA will be able to reload. Interesting article. Don't want to sidebar this thread tho.

UCLA's Cori Close exhausted and contemplating retirement, urges NCAA to help coaches with transfer rules, NIL

"I've never been as tired as I've been in the last two years, and it's made me think how much longer I can do this."

sports.yahoo.com

 

[WBBZen]

Two more Tennessee players to the portal

 

[Geew1992]

Two more Tennessee players to the portal

As of now.. Tennessee has 4 returning and 2 incoming players

 

[Huskee11]

Maybe Tennessee and Iowa State can form a co-op team together

The "Lady Cyclones"

 

[YoDore]

As of now.. Tennessee has 4 returning and 2 incoming players

Hurst surprises me. She is semi local. Great volleyball player, too.

 

[JellyBean]

Two more Tennessee players to the portal

So it begins.

 

[LETTERL]

Two more Tennessee players to the portal

NC State was among her final three before committing to Tennessee.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

Who is this source.?
Is anyone else reporting it?
It’s not on VolNation so I am skeptical

Dunno. I aint that invested. Just sharing.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

If the twins are out, Tennessee still has civil and coop. There’s also 2 freshman coming in

I thought Civil and Coop would have been on the first train leaving. Nothing at TN is making a lot of sense these days.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

Just because something is in print doesn’t mean it’s not a false rumor. Not sure how discourse is helped by spreading around unreliable info.

You decide. I’m not on here to write my thesis.

 

[Centerstream]

I hope this year's decision to have the portal entry dates after the tournament is an experiment. Because it really really doesn't changed anything, right????

 

[Centerstream]

You decide. I’m not on here to write my thesis.

Isn't everything on the interweb true? AI says it is. 😁

 

[LwrcasefaN]

Isn't everything on the interweb true? AI says it is. 😁

Lol

 

[HuskyNan]

Transfer news must be from a news source, reputable source (eg Skim Milkey, EJ, etc), the school, or the player herself. Fan postings are not reputable sources nor is that looney tune Coach Jumper

 

[HuskyNan]

Isn't everything on the interweb true? AI says it is. 😁

 

[Bigboote]

looney tune Coach Jumper

“Of course this means war.”
— real Loony Tune Bugs Bunny

 

[Dillon77]

Bonnie Deas, Frosh Guard from Australia who played for Arkansas, announces she's going into the portal.

She was recruited and committed to Mike Neighbors and honored it, even after he left. Had a solid season, but is moving on.
Played a lot and delivered. Nine rebounds per game for a guard under six feet in the SEC? Pretty darn good.

Arkansas women's basketball guard Bonnie Deas to enter transfer portal | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Deas, a 5-foot-9 native of Australia, averaged 10.2 points and 9 rebounds as a freshman for the Razorbacks in 2025-26.

www.nwaonline.com

 

[JstVisiting]

I imagine she will go to a contender. Iowa might be a good fit

Make up your mind. Is she going to a contender or is she going to Iowa? 😈

 

[YoDore]

Bonnie Deas, Frosh Guard from Australia who played for Arkansas, announces she's going into the portal.

She was recruited and committed to Mike Neighbors and honored it, even after he left. Had a solid season, but is moving on.
Played a lot and delivered. Nine rebounds per game for a guard under six feet in the SEC? Pretty darn good.

Arkansas women's basketball guard Bonnie Deas to enter transfer portal | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Deas, a 5-foot-9 native of Australia, averaged 10.2 points and 9 rebounds as a freshman for the Razorbacks in 2025-26.

www.nwaonline.com

She’s excellent. Has a former team Australia teammate going to USC and another at Vandy. She could help a lot of teams. Hate it for coach Musick, though. She has a tough job ahead of her, and now she’s losing her best player.