2026 Transfer portal

[Dillon77]

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.

Nine rebounds a game for someone 5'9"? That number sticks with me....

 

[BRS24]

 

[Dillon77]

Will they follow their former College of Charleston coach, Robyn Harmony, to Pitt?

 

[BRS24]

Will they follow their former College of Charleston coach, Robyn Harmony, to Pitt?

Good question. Both of their stats caught my eye.

 

[YoDore]

Nine rebounds a game for someone 5'9"? That number sticks with me....

Talked to the dad of the Vandy player who was teammates with Deas on team Australia. He hasn’t heard anything since she announced she’s entering the portal, but he did say Syracuse was high on her list when she was choosing a place to play. Said he was surprised when she chose Arkansas. He, a former college player and now a coach/sports psychologist in Australia, said Deas and his daughter are good friends. I doubt Vandy is an option, though. She’ll have lots of other options.

 

[Ozimoto]

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

I think coaching at the Division 1 level will require adaptation to succeed. It's becoming more like coaching at the professional level where you have to deal with free agency and constant roster building and reshuffling. If an individual gets into coaching because they want to teach the game and develop players to be their best, the P4 jobs are probably no longer for you. Those people will go to D2 and D3 schools where those virtues will still be appreciated. Even at that, if you do find that diamond in the rough to work with, they may well be poached by a D1 school.

 

[Centerstream]

Me, beating that poor dead horse...can players that make public their "intent" to enter the portal before the tournament is finished, name what school that they intend to transfer to?

 

[cancontent]

Will they follow their former College of Charleston coach, Robyn Harmony, to Pitt?

That was my first thought as well.

 

[cancontent]

Me, beating that poor dead horse...can players that make public their "intent" to enter the portal before the tournament is finished, name what school that they intend to transfer to?

I think it only applies to grad students at the D1 level. Not sure about D2/D3 as I've seen posts by Talia about visits to schools already.

Personally, if non-grad students could announce where they plan to go, then the April 15th date was a waste of time. It would also indicate that conversations have been ongoing which some could see as tampering.

 

[Centerstream]

I think coaching at the Division 1 level will require adaptation to succeed. It's becoming more like coaching at the professional level where you have to deal with free agency and constant roster building and reshuffling. If an individual gets into coaching because the want to teach the game and develop players to be their best, the P4 jobs are probably no longer for you. Those people will go to D2 and D3 schools where those virtues will still be appreciated. Even at that, if you do find that diamond in the rough to work with, they may well be poached by a D1 school.

True but in the pros, players have actual contracts and can only become free agents according to the length of their contract. Of course I think their contracts could include buyout options but I am not sure how often that happens.
In college, transfers could happen for every player, every year.

 

[BRS24]

Me, beating that poor dead horse...can players that make public their "intent" to enter the portal before the tournament is finished, name what school that they intend to transfer to?

Here's my kinda sorta informed view.. The portal is only open right now for grad transfers, and maybe coaching change situations. Anyone else can declare that they are going into the portal, however for this group, nothing can be processed until April 6th. That is not to say that "stuff' isn't happening in the background, however players would need to clear the requirements of the new school before anything is official.

 

[Centerstream]

Personally, if non-grad students could announce where they plan to go, then the April 15th date was a waste of time. It would also indicate that conversations have been ongoing which some could see as tampering.

My point exactly.

 

[Dillon77]

I think it only applies to grad students at the D1 level. Not sure about D2/D3 as I've seen posts by Talia about visits to schools already.

Personally, if non-grad students could announce where they plan to go, then the April 15th date was a waste of time. It would also indicate that conversations have been ongoing which some could see as tampering.

Oh, a number of people see that as tampering. And the tampering takes place during the NCAA's, which is supposed to be when everyone is focused on the ultimate goal. (Or at least it once as perceived as that....)

 

[dws3665]

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.

Really hate to see Bonnie go, but totally get it. She is a very solid player, and her motor is non-stop. Was hoping she'd stick around, but her transfer decision is understandable. Has a ton of potential, but really needs to improve her shooting %s - just 32% from the floor and ~25% from 3. But she is a very solid player who can improve on both of those numbers substantially. And, she's a great locker room kid. Everyone -- teammates and fans -- loved her in Fayetteville. Wish her the best at her next stop. Syracuse, Miss St., and Washington were her other finalists, but I'm honestly not sure if she even took her UW visit?

 

[BRS24]

 

[Bigboote]

I think coaching at the Division 1 level will require adaptation to succeed. It's becoming more like coaching at the professional level where you have to deal with free agency and constant roster building and reshuffling. If an individual gets into coaching because they want to teach the game and develop players to be their best, the P4 jobs are probably no longer for you. Those people will go to D2 and D3 schools where those virtues will still be appreciated. Even at that, if you do find that diamond in the rough to work with, they may well be poached by a D1 school.

That was my first thought, too. It seems that Coach Close is asking the NCAA to adapt to her rather than herself adapting to the new rules. The NCAA has done one thing that should help, in allowing for two more coaches. It would seem that two more coaches could take the pressure off the head coach to deal with transfer-related stuff.

I wonder if Close has trouble delegating? Also, she built a squad that has seven players graduating this year. Yes, there's pressure to bring more players in, but a certain amount of that pressure is self-inflicted by her construction of the roster.

 

[JstVisiting]

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

UCLA's gonna reload is a pipe dream. The only player on the roster who has given indications she could play 30 minutes for a Final Four team next year is Sienna Betts. You don't lose six seniors projected in the top 15 of the draft and reload with transfers in any meaningful sense.

 

[NycUcWbbFan]

That was my first thought, too. It seems that Coach Close is asking the NCAA to adapt to her rather than herself adapting to the new rules. The NCAA has done one thing that should help, in allowing for two more coaches. It would seem that two more coaches could take the pressure off the head coach to deal with transfer-related stuff.

I wonder if Close has trouble delegating? Also, she built a squad that has seven players graduating this year. Yes, there's pressure to bring more players in, but a certain amount of that pressure is self-inflicted by her construction of the roster.

It looks like UCLA’s circumstances, magnified by the new paradigm, has enabled USC to cannibalize the arguably more recently successful UCLA.

Close is arguably betting that winning the NCAAT would make UCLA even its odds with USC in terms of high school recruiting.

• Or that Gottlieb fails to capitalize on the super [insert your adjective here] glide path (Big 6 + middlings and one ball) to an All-Star roster and become a cautionary tale.

In the mean time, Close is betting on (possibly a revolving door of) (1-year) (cheaper, per Dawn) “rentals”, not unlike the men’s.

• For example, Close has chosen to limit her rotations (and their development) to 109 rotations vs 160 rotations for UConn.
• Some coaches are more adaptable than others but the men have been complaining about their yearly reconstituted rosters.

 

[Charliebball]

I think coaching at the Division 1 level will require adaptation to succeed. It's becoming more like coaching at the professional level where you have to deal with free agency and constant roster building and reshuffling. If an individual gets into coaching because they want to teach the game and develop players to be their best, the P4 jobs are probably no longer for you. Those people will go to D2 and D3 schools where those virtues will still be appreciated. Even at that, if you do find that diamond in the rough to work with, they may well be poached by a D1 school.

If Close is complaining despite all the advantages that a school like UCLA has to offer, imagine what mid-tier DI coaches are going through......

 

[Bone Dog]

Reading Cori's gripe makes me think that UConn has a duty to win it all this season simply for the sake of the integrity of the game. If UCLA wins the NC, it will be like an endorsement of her portal patchwork teams. I don't agree that it will help with her high school recruiting efforts. What high school kids (or their parents) ought to see is that Cori and Lindsay and Mark Campbell, etc., have no qualms taking transfers over their recruits. What hs kid can trust what that coach says to get them to sign?

It's true that Geno takes transfers, but not on the scale of these coaches. The core of his team is 'lifers' like Azzi, KK, Ash, Allie, not to mention Carol and Ayanna. His commitment to kids who stay is legendary. Two possible exceptions: Kayleigh and Serah. But I'm pretty sure KK was on board with Kayleigh, may even have lobbied for her, after they spent time together in Kelsey Plum's Guard Camp together. Serah required some patience from Jana Ice and Gandy, but I'm equally sure Geno discussed it with them as well. Anyway, if Geno weren't known to stick with the kids who commit to the program, there's no way he gets Sarah and Blanca to come to Storrs. They each chose team culture over a quick paycheck for a reason.

 

[Geew1992]

Reading Cori's gripe makes me think that UConn has a duty to win it all this season simply for the sake of the integrity of the game. If UCLA wins the NC, it will be like an endorsement of her portal patchwork teams. I don't agree that it will help with her high school recruiting efforts. What high school kids (or their parents) ought to see is that Cori and Lindsay and Mark Campbell, etc., have no qualms taking transfers over their recruits. What hs kid can trust what that coach says to get them to sign?

It's true that Geno takes transfers, but not on the scale of these coaches. The core of his team is 'lifers' like Azzi, KK, Ash, Allie, not to mention Carol and Ayanna. His commitment to kids who stay is legendary. Two possible exceptions: Kayleigh and Serah. But I'm pretty sure KK was on board with Kayleigh, may even have lobbied for her, after they spent time together in Kelsey Plum's Guard Camp together. Serah required some patience from Jana Ice and Gandy, but I'm equally sure Geno discussed it with them as well. Anyway, if Geno weren't known to stick with the kids who commit to the program, there's no way he gets Sarah and Blanca to come to Storrs. They each chose team culture over a quick paycheck for a reason.

I'm not defending Close, but can you really compare the 2? Close continuously loses players to the portal. She has no choice but to go to the portal to have a team. Geno may lose a player or 2 each year, but it's not significant that he HAS to portal the portal.

 

[Stagnant]

That’s too bad. I was really impressed with her. Big loss for Oklahoma state.

UCLA would probably be interested tbh.

 

[Bone Dog]

I'm not defending Close, but can you really compare the 2? Close continuously loses players to the portal. She has no choice but to go to the portal to have a team. Geno may lose a player or 2 each year, but it's not significant that he HAS to portal the portal.

I think these two facts may be related with the ground and consequent reversed.

I'm not sure what to make of the second remark. I suspect Geno might say he's never 'lost' a player to the portal, though he has helped many players find better situations through it.

 

[LETTERL]

It's true that Geno takes transfers, but not on the scale of these coaches. The core of his team is 'lifers' like Azzi, KK, Ash, Allie, not to mention Carol and Ayanna. His commitment to kids who stay is legendary. Two possible exceptions: Kayleigh and Serah. But I'm pretty sure KK was on board with Kayleigh, may even have lobbied for her, after they spent time together in Kelsey Plum's Guard Camp together. Serah required some patience from Jana Ice and Gandy, but I'm equally sure Geno discussed it with them as well. Anyway, if Geno weren't known to stick with the kids who commit to the program, there's no way he gets Sarah and Blanca to come to Storrs. They each chose team culture over a quick paycheck for a reason.

In this Wild West era we are living in now, every team would like to know UCONN's formula for getting not only talented players but those who want to be part of a team and be loyal to the program. Yes, there have been transfers out of the program (NC State got one in Qadence Samuels) but without diving into deep research, it seems rare that a star player ever leaves that program and stays there until they graduate. Despite the high standards demanded by Geno...players who go to UCONN want to be coached tough and are dedicated to the program.

I say this in the wake of Zam Jones declaring she is leaving NC State...and although no true reason has been given, it appears either money or dissatisfaction with the coaching staff led to her departure. If Zam Jones, who grew up just 50 miles away from Raleigh, is willing to leave the program that recruited her for a long time, then no program is safe from having players leave. Except, apparently, UCONN.