I think Giselle Maul is returning next season!
NCAA WBB Transfer Portal in 2026
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Last: 11 days ago by HoopDreams
Because of her instagram post? Or some internal discussions?
Congrats to Coach Smith and Staff on retaining their best returning players! In contrast to the MBB team that lost their best returners to the Portal- what do you think is the major reason? Is it because MBB has bigger NIL to lure players away?
The Haas Pavilion forum has a lot of information about money on the men's side.
My short form answer to why WBB and not MBB?>
Top-level ACC talent in MBB can still generate generational wealth. Both in the NIL world and certainly AFTER college.
For WBB, that level of wealth is only available for the top 20-30 players in the country. So getting a Cal degree is, comparatively, more valuable because a mid-level WNBA contract isn't generational wealth (yet.)
Top-level ACC talent in MBB can still generate generational wealth. Both in the NIL world and certainly AFTER college.
For WBB, that level of wealth is only available for the top 20-30 players in the country. So getting a Cal degree is, comparatively, more valuable because a mid-level WNBA contract isn't generational wealth (yet.)
From a long distance it looks to me like our women transferred out for playing time while our men transferred out for money.
The portal has closed. Although Cal fans have been able to relax for a while regarding potential exits, I'm glad this part of the frenzy is over. Over 1500 young women are hoping to find fame, fortune and playing time elsewhere…may they all find also a college degree that will help them throughout life. Only about 430 have found new campuses so far. And I'd still love for Lola to stay put…she knows the system, and can be a very helpful role player.
It doesn't appear that Cal will use any more scholarships for the transfer portal. I'm surprised that Charmin only brought in three. The Bears do have depth now so that is probably the reason. GO BEARS!
Schroeder71 said:
It doesn't appear that Cal will use any more scholarships for the transfer portal. I'm surprised that Charmin only brought in three. The Bears do have depth now so that is probably the reason. GO BEARS!
I'm guessing because she also brought in four freshies.
Not sure if I'm ready to agree with you. Sakima was signed 4/29/25, Mjarcle's announcement was made on 5/5/25, and Naya's announcement was 5/6/25.
Last year, Michigan's coach was asked if she planned on bringing in more than two transfers. She basically responded that they had reached their economic limit.
We have likely used significant NIL to keep our current players.
We have likely used significant NIL to keep our current players.
Michigan and other Big 10 teams shouldn't have a budget restriction this year:
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/48439547/big-ten-earns-694m-revenue-ncaa-basketball-tournaments
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/48439547/big-ten-earns-694m-revenue-ncaa-basketball-tournaments
I'm struggling to narrow down the starters from 7 to 5 (amazing problem to have). With that much depth i'd be surprised if we brought another player in?
A problem I won't complain about!
A problem I won't complain about!
CalFanatic said:
I'm struggling to narrow down the starters from 7 to 5 (amazing problem to have). With that much depth i'd be surprised if we brought another player in?
A problem I won't complain about!
Stop your struggling. It's about minutes, not starters.
That being said, who's the seventh "starter"?
RedlessWardrobe said:CalFanatic said:
I'm struggling to narrow down the starters from 7 to 5 (amazing problem to have). With that much depth i'd be surprised if we brought another player in?
A problem I won't complain about!
Stop your struggling. It's about minutes, not starters.
That being said, who's the seventh "starter"?
Russell. She had 50 + D1 offers according to one story on here. Including many from top 25 programs/sweet 16 participants.
A 6'2 Forward with post-like footwork who can also light it up from 3? Music to my ears.
CalFanatic said:RedlessWardrobe said:CalFanatic said:
I'm struggling to narrow down the starters from 7 to 5 (amazing problem to have). With that much depth i'd be surprised if we brought another player in?
A problem I won't complain about!
Stop your struggling. It's about minutes, not starters.
That being said, who's the seventh "starter"?
Russell. She had 50 + D1 offers according to one story on here. Including many from top 25 programs/sweet 16 participants.
A 6'2 Forward with post-like footwork who can also light it up from 3? Music to my ears.
Yep. Might not start, but I agree. She'll get plenty of minutes and might be the break out player of the year.
CalFanatic said:
I'm struggling to narrow down the starters from 7 to 5 (amazing problem to have).
At this point I have more questions than answers:
Center: How will playing time be distributed between our two new centers? Will any of our forwards get time at center?
Forward: Will Naya develop her game (offense and defense) away from the basket? Will Zara and/or Anna get playing time right away?
Guard: We're strong, experienced, and deep. Will Ruby break into the rotation? Will Carly do more than hit threes?
I expect us to play everyone early in the season then settle on a 7 to 9 player rotation by January.
With a deeper team, maybe we play pressure defense more often
stu said:CalFanatic said:
I'm struggling to narrow down the starters from 7 to 5 (amazing problem to have).
At this point I have more questions than answers:
Center: How will playing time be distributed between our two new centers? Will any of our forwards get time at center?
Forward: Will Naya develop her game (offense and defense) away from the basket? Will Zara and/or Anna get playing time right away?
Guard: We're strong, experienced, and deep. Will Ruby break into the rotation? Will Carly do more than hit threes?
I expect us to play everyone early in the season then settle on a 7 to 9 player rotation by January.
Looks like Lola is going to Fresno State.. interesting
And Isis Johnson-Musah has committed to Charlotte based upon what she just posted on Instagram.
bellavita992 said:
Looks like Lola is going to Fresno State.. interesting
Fresno reminds me less of Hawai'i but the basketball situation there may be better for her.
i am guessing that College Academics and prestige is way down on the list of priorities.
stu said:bellavita992 said:
Looks like Lola is going to Fresno State.. interesting
Fresno reminds me less of Hawai'i but the basketball situation there may be better for her.
I hope she finds what she's looking for! I couldn't leave the bay for Fresno personally lol.. and giving up a Cal degree too
3Cats4CAL said:
i am guessing that College Academics and prestige is way down on the list of priorities.
Could be Lola figures she has multiple years to get her degree. She probably only has two years left to play college basketball so transferring to a school where she will get significant playing minutes at this stage of her life would be more important. If I were in her position that would be my outlook on the situation.
Fresno State has a head coach, Ryan McCarthy, who joined the program a year ago after coming from Div. II, Alaska Anchorage. Much of his staff also followed him from there.
The Bulldogs were 15-18 this past season and will be joining the "new" Pac-12 on July 1st.
The Bulldogs were 15-18 this past season and will be joining the "new" Pac-12 on July 1st.
bellavita992 said:stu said:bellavita992 said:
Looks like Lola is going to Fresno State.. interesting
Fresno reminds me less of Hawai'i but the basketball situation there may be better for her.
I hope she finds what she's looking for! I couldn't leave the bay for Fresno personally lol.. and giving up a Cal degree too
Yeah. I don't see Lola making a lot of money in pro basketball so I think the Cal degree would be important.
Could be that she enjoys the game so much that she foresees a coaching career some day. In which case, a Cal degree might not be much of an advantage, but having a successful college playing career could be.
bellavita992 said:stu said:bellavita992 said:
Looks like Lola is going to Fresno State.. interesting
Fresno reminds me less of Hawai'i but the basketball situation there may be better for her.
I hope she finds what she's looking for! I couldn't leave the bay for Fresno personally lol.. and giving up a Cal degree too
Wasn't she recruited over, at least potentially? To what degree was it her choice?
mbBear said:bellavita992 said:stu said:bellavita992 said:
Looks like Lola is going to Fresno State.. interesting
Fresno reminds me less of Hawai'i but the basketball situation there may be better for her.
I hope she finds what she's looking for! I couldn't leave the bay for Fresno personally lol.. and giving up a Cal degree too
Wasn't she recruited over, atl least potentially? To what degree was it her choice?
I assume it was her choice to stay at Cal but possibly or probably with reduced playing time.
stu said:mbBear said:bellavita992 said:stu said:bellavita992 said:
Looks like Lola is going to Fresno State.. interesting
Fresno reminds me less of Hawai'i but the basketball situation there may be better for her.
I hope she finds what she's looking for! I couldn't leave the bay for Fresno personally lol.. and giving up a Cal degree too
Wasn't she recruited over, atl least potentially? To what degree was it her choice?
I assume it was her choice to stay at Cal but possibly or probably with reduced playing time.
Well, I just feel like the whole "walked away from a Cal degree" is an over simplification if we don't know the details.... but yeah, people can post whatever, I get that...
Have no idea what Lola majored in, but to bang my drum again, how much more is a Cal degree in sociology, say, worth than a Fresno State degree?
I know there are studies about future earnings, but correlation is not causation. Smart people go to Cal; smart people tend to make more money than less smart people. But if a smart person goes to Fresno State, how much less money do they earn than a smart person from Cal?
A grad degree? Different story.
On another point: Starting matters a lot to some players; to others, it doesn't matter much at all. That's one of the things a coach must navigate. At UCLA this year, it was a problem, apparently, until Dugalic volunteered to come off the bench because it meant less to her than the others.
I know there are studies about future earnings, but correlation is not causation. Smart people go to Cal; smart people tend to make more money than less smart people. But if a smart person goes to Fresno State, how much less money do they earn than a smart person from Cal?
A grad degree? Different story.
On another point: Starting matters a lot to some players; to others, it doesn't matter much at all. That's one of the things a coach must navigate. At UCLA this year, it was a problem, apparently, until Dugalic volunteered to come off the bench because it meant less to her than the others.
In Lola's case, its not just starting, its minutes. Based on the upcoming season with Shannon and Ruby coming in would leave very little playing time for Lola. She's only going to be a junior in college once. She's making a smart move.
3Cats4CAL said:SFCALBear72 said:
Another Stanford player, Chloe Clardy, announced today that she will be entering the transfer portal.
She was the other major scorer beside Agara. So their best players remaining players are Eschemayer (sp) and Swain and maybe Umeh. Parallels their mbb team now that Okorie is leaving and going into the NBA. Next to go should be the coach..
No, keep the coach! TVD handpicked her
A post above mentioned Charmin offering NIL to a prospective player.
NIL deals are third-party marketing agreements with outside brands, while revenue sharing (also referred to as a "salary") is direct payment from a school to the athlete.
NIL deals are third-party marketing agreements with outside brands, while revenue sharing (also referred to as a "salary") is direct payment from a school to the athlete.
Perhaps this deserves it's own thread, but it seems to me that schools, including Cal, should offer their athletes a course of financial planning, etc. I've had a couple conversations with several college athletes of late (here and elsewhere) and it seems there's not a lot of financial guidance given as to how to manage the sudden (new) influx of cash for these kids. I was told this is an issue particularly for young men....who tend to spend their money more quickly (on stupid stuff).
We've seen this happen on a wider scale with pro sports when a player, paid millions, ends up destitute later in life. I'm concerned that while not on the same scale, these young athletes may be blowing an opportunity to help secure their financial futures. As we've noted, many of these athletes will not have high-paying professional careers and so NIL money earned during their college years really offers an opportunity to establish a solid financial foundation for their future, no matter what they end up doing.
I've not read anything specific about what Cal Athletics may offer its student-athletes, but really it should be something that's a priority for all D1 institutions....in a perfect world eh?
We've seen this happen on a wider scale with pro sports when a player, paid millions, ends up destitute later in life. I'm concerned that while not on the same scale, these young athletes may be blowing an opportunity to help secure their financial futures. As we've noted, many of these athletes will not have high-paying professional careers and so NIL money earned during their college years really offers an opportunity to establish a solid financial foundation for their future, no matter what they end up doing.
I've not read anything specific about what Cal Athletics may offer its student-athletes, but really it should be something that's a priority for all D1 institutions....in a perfect world eh?
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