Some quick Cal Women’s Basketball news as the offseason moves

- F Marta Suarez on Instagram announces that she’s moving on (had an extra year if she wanted it), thanked Cal and the community for the mems 🫡

- G/F Kamryn Mafua has reportedly entered the portal per @SkimMilkey

— Thomas Dunn (@Thomasdunn24) March 31, 2025

Woodacre said:

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My fear…guess…is that Kamryn won't be the only exit…

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mbBear said:

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Woodacre said:

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My fear…guess…is that Kamryn won't be the only exit…

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Fear? Cal had a really good recruiting year, and players got recruited over..I think it's a bigger shock if all the younger players stay ..

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stu said:

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I suppose that depends on the program you choose. If you motivation is academic then choose the degree, if your motivation is basketball then choose the certificate.

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Woodacre said:

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I didn't realize that Marta saying she was "moving on" meant that she was entering the portal…I thought it meant "Europe…"

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ClayK said:

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The talent pool is much shallower on the women's side, for a variety of reasons, which means the competition for ACC-level players is intense.

And Marta, who is an ACC-level player, voting with her feet tells us she doesn't believe a) Cal will have a competitive roster; b) Cal can't pay her; c) she can find a better overall situation -- or all three.

Suarez can help a very good team coming off the bench, if she's willing to do that. She's not really a starter at the Sweet 16 level, though.

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Woodacre said:

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I can't speak to the academics, but I did chat with her during last year's banquet and she was effusive about the difference in vibe and energy from Tennessee

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Woodacre said:

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On Sirius Channel 84, the NCAA channel, they were interviewing one of the March Madness analysts, and he said that the ACC is unsustainable due to travel. He said the Georgia Tech baseball coach was retiring this year, citing both the craziness of the Portal plus the travel: "We are playing Stanford this weekend. We are flying on Thursday, taking the red eye Sunday night." The analyst then specifically cited Cal and Stanford...he said for football it's not as bad, but for basketball "these student athletes are flying every other week, for up to a week. When do they get to be on campus? When do they get to be a student?" So perhaps that challenge in simply getting a chance to be a college kid is a factor?

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mbBear said:

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Woodacre said:

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On Sirius Channel 84, the NCAA channel, they were interviewing one of the March Madness analysts, and he said that the ACC is unsustainable due to travel. He said the Georgia Tech baseball coach was retiring this year, citing both the craziness of the Portal plus the travel: "We are playing Stanford this weekend. We are flying on Thursday, taking the red eye Sunday night." The analyst then specifically cited Cal and Stanford...he said for football it's not as bad, but for basketball "these student athletes are flying every other week, for up to a week. When do they get to be on campus? When do they get to be a student?" So perhaps that challenge in simply getting a chance to be a college kid is a factor?

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Not sure I get the pointing out of the ACC...last time I looked, SC and UCLA have their fair share of opponents in the Eastern time zone.
But sure, there are schools with less travel....

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BearSD said:

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mbBear said:

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Woodacre said:

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On Sirius Channel 84, the NCAA channel, they were interviewing one of the March Madness analysts, and he said that the ACC is unsustainable due to travel. He said the Georgia Tech baseball coach was retiring this year, citing both the craziness of the Portal plus the travel: "We are playing Stanford this weekend. We are flying on Thursday, taking the red eye Sunday night." The analyst then specifically cited Cal and Stanford...he said for football it's not as bad, but for basketball "these student athletes are flying every other week, for up to a week. When do they get to be on campus? When do they get to be a student?" So perhaps that challenge in simply getting a chance to be a college kid is a factor?

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Not sure I get the pointing out of the ACC...last time I looked, SC and UCLA have their fair share of opponents in the Eastern time zone.
But sure, there are schools with less travel....

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Oh, I get it. Sports media is full of guys who want Cal and Stanford athletics to (quoting the retired UNC soccer coach) "die on the vine". They don't have the same animosity toward USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington.

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SFCALBear72 said:

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That's the second Georgia Tech coach to retire this year. WBB Coach, Nell Fortner, announced her retirement earlier this week.

Isn't Atlanta a major airline hub? Just saying.

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Quote:

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Cal's football team needs to start winning lots of games so the athletic department and the collective have more money available for players and facilities.

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ClayK said:

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So let's just use Marta Suarez as an example ...

1) She's going to have a pro career in Europe, so she wants to come out of college as polished and ready as possible. If she feels a different program will help her improve, then she'll move on.

2) As with anyone, she will listen to money. If a Big 10 school offers her $100,000 and Cal offers $50,000, the choice is obvious.

3) Players like to win and play with other good players. Lulu is a good player. What other good players are guaranteed to be on the Cal roster next year? Presumably Marta can find a team with more returning talent.

4) Facilities. Yes, a practice gym. And a modern arena with good crowds would be nice too.

These are the hurdles Charmin and a large number of other P4 coaches must overcome. And there's not enough talent to go around.

If Tess Heal didn;'t play the same position as Puff, she would be a great get, but it makes little sense to have two point guards, a shooting guard and no inside depth. Cal's limited money has to go to fours and fives, it would seem.

In the short run, Charmin needs to get lucky. In the long run, Cal's football team needs to start winning lots of games so the athletic department and the collective have more money available for players and facilities.

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