NCAA Women's Bball Transfer Portal

[Beepboop 1]

  On 4/10/2025 at 5:55 PM, Aaron said:

That's part of it combined with Moren not realizing the increased prices until to late and needing to try to get additional $$$ like many others did earlier.

Being worked on now, but takes time.

How much time are we talking though? Momentum can really start slipping away from the program soon

[TTT 1,349]

  On 4/10/2025 at 6:00 PM, Todd41 said:

Welcome to the professional sports world where the large market teams get all the money and small market teams fight for scraps.

IU Ladies seem to be struggling in the small market area as well.

[TTT 1,349]

  On 4/10/2025 at 5:37 PM, TTT said:

That didn’t take long.  Dudley to Michigan.

So does Nguemen-Socka follow or go elsewhere?

 

[Aaron 4,538]

  On 4/10/2025 at 6:04 PM, Beepboop said:

How much time are we talking though? Momentum can really start slipping away from the program soon

As quick as they can raise money. If they get it tomorrow they could be big players in portal going forward. Could be several months. Like any fundraising it depends on how much money you can raise how fast which is often out of your control. Its why it would have been good to start a few months ago like other programs and Moren seemingly understands now in retrospect but can't change past.

I don't think I will get any more info on this going forward then what has already been whispered to me by a few people. However, evidence will be if they get start getting visits and/or commits with higher end prospects. So far the lack of visits suggests they have ways to go. 

As fans, best thing to do is be patient and have minimal expectations for this year. However, if things go well from NIL fundraising, could be big players for 2026-2027 as happened to Freese as they raised throughout 2023-2024. You would think donations would go up if IU struggles a bit this year and they can go back to people and say they need $$$ to keep program strong. 

My advice for this yr is expect less and and treat anything more as a surprise. Then reassess in 2026 when hopefully a lot more NIL should hopefully be there to swim with big fish.  

[Aaron 4,538]

  On 4/10/2025 at 6:15 PM, TTT said:

There continues to be some quality players still to this day entering transfer portal.  It would be a disgrace for IU Ladies to miss out on every one of them given recent success.

Is Shay Czieki going to play center 2025-26?

or option 2:  Faith Wiseman?

or option 3?

Dolson and especially Pam Whitten…Help!!!  Speak up.  Say something!

Right now lineup would be:

C Faith, Fenn 

F Makalsuky, Valentina 

G Sotijn, Spreen

G Lenee, Caffey

G Shay

I actually think you can win at solid level with that guard rotation. Its that current frontcourt that scares me to death and could well hold team back. The lack of traction with any bigs implies NIL still not quite there yet although I have heard nothing new in last 3-4 weeks to indicate either way nor would I expect to hear anything again. 

Like I said, who they can visits with and commits from will indicate how quickly NIL situation is improving. 

[ronzo4IU 424]

  On 4/10/2025 at 5:40 PM, Aaron said:

As I have said, it was not 'refusing' in in terms of outright refusing money as some have claimed and is beyond ridiculous. No coach would outright decline NIL money handed to her 

It was more being warned by Hysterics and several others she needed more NIL for building a stronger roster and asking Hoosiers Connect and other for donations specifically for women's basketball and fundraising. Instead of doing this, she thought her culture would be strong enough to maintain players and underestimated how much NIL was needed.

The Yarden situation was a bit of a wake up call to her. They did blitz fundraise from what I understand for Yarden and had enough to match Maryland. However, she did not want to be part of a rebuild for a final year. Furthermore, these donors were only willing to pay the reported 300K for Yarden and not give another couple million to fill out roster. They also were unwilling to give any if Yarden was not on team.

As a result, Yarden is gone and NIL fundraising had to start from scratch with smaller donations and it woke Moren up to reality. They will get there but with such a late start, this roster is unlikely to have talent of past for this year, unless a last minute donor step ups which would be evidence if IU were connected to bigger names. So far not seeing that which means fundraising efforts are slow as expected and can't swim in NIL waters for top players.

Also, see above as I said that IU is in a particularly unique situation of having football just getting good and needing extra $$$ to stay there as well as extra $$$ to build a whole new men's basketball roster. Rightly or wrongly, given Moren's attitude towards NIL until very recently, all focus was on the big two sports as would be the case at any other school.

Most coaches saw this on women's side and asked for women's NIL months ago. Moren didn't until last second. Sometimes when you are stuck in old school ways as Moren was, it takes being hit in the face with the real issue (Yarden situation) to realize you need to adjust. 

Those who still refuse such as Joe McKeown or Coquese Washington are no longer viable coaches. Those who adjust as Moren sounds like she wants to might have a down year similar to Freese a couple yrs ago and then be really good again.

Also I think IU and Moren were caught off guard by asking price increase this yr. This goes for all sports but it is much easier to shake donors for extra cash in football and men's bball then women's bball.

I am using imaginary numbers since I don't know amounts but lets say Strip and Shay cost 50k each this year, that level of players might cost 100k this year. With money program had, they could still get 50k players but that is now someone like Spreen who is a risk.

Sort of like if I buy groceries for $200 and assume I can get same amount of food for that price indefinitely and then suddenly the same groceries cost $400 without warning (although someone mentioned to me job might not be sustainable with inflation at current salary which is kind of what Moren had happen) but I have only the funds to buy $200 worth of groceries. Mean's I have to cut back and get less food for same amount of money and try to make it work or find a better job for more money. For the interim, I would probably have to buy groceries for the same $200 and get lesser amounts or less fancy stuff and make it work (Spreen Type player) with maybe springing for a decent treat (Stotijn) instead of something else I really wanted. However, once I can find a better paying job finally (raising NIL funds) I can go back to buying the same groceries I always bought for $400 Instead but it takes time to do this.

This is more or less where IU is at.     

Yeah, thanks again for the rundown and I do get it.

It’s really a shame that this is happening to the girls program right now because in the past several years, they have turned into a real bright spot in IU athletics, especially with how bad the football team had been and how down the basketball team has been.

They have been a ray of hope surging to the top and then once the arena starting getting packed, which I don’t think had ever happened before, and riding that wave/ building on all that momentum sure would’ve been nice.

[TTT 1,349]

  On 4/10/2025 at 6:28 PM, Aaron said:

Right now lineup would be:

C Faith, Fenn 

F Makalsuky, Valentina 

G Sotijn, Spreen

G Lenee, Caffey

G Shay

I actually think you can win at solid level with that guard rotation. Its that current frontcourt that scares me to death and could well hold team back. The lack of traction with any bigs implies NIL still not quite there yet although I have heard nothing new in last 3-4 weeks to indicate either way nor would I expect to hear anything again. 

Like I said, who they can visits with and commits from will indicate how quickly NIL situation is improving. 

Hire Lilly back.  However, there will be someone eventually.  IU Ladies don’t have enough players on the roster yet.  This would make for a scrappy underdog team. Shay is a check (but shooting %s from the other guards are not promising…though Spreen should know how to shoot the ball and or score).  (Stotijin %s not sure I understand how they could be that bad except playing in wrong situation).

[Aaron 4,538]

  On 4/10/2025 at 6:39 PM, ronzo4IU said:

Yeah, thanks again for the rundown and I do get it.

It’s really a shame that this is happening to the girls program right now because in the past several years, they have turned into a real bright spot in IU athletics, especially with how bad the football team had been and how down the basketball team has been.

They have been a ray of hope surging to the top and then once the arena starting getting packed, which I don’t think had ever happened before, and riding that wave/ building on all that momentum sure would’ve been nice.

They still might if we are all patient. Its just not an overnight process.

[LamarCheeks 22,140]

  On 4/10/2025 at 5:54 PM, Aaron said:

IU was not getting McMahon regardless of situation given player types Moren wants and system. You can complain, but if they had more NIL it would be more like Kneepkens and Merkle type players they could afford and fit Moren's system.

McMahon was never an option nor would Moren want her. Hot headed alpha's don't fit and that describes McMahon. However, great kids who are both alpha's (ala Holmes, Berger, Scalia etc.) or role players (Parrish, Ciezki etc.)  would fit and that describes players I mentioned above as well as several others.

Moren has made it clear she won't compromise her standards but wants to get bigger and more athletic. McMahon would compromise Moren's system agree or disagree with pursuing her. However, plenty of portal players match what Moren wants beautifully such as players I mentioned above. However, don't have funds for that right now (see my above and below posts).

Never said we were getting McMahon.

Never said I thought she was an option.

Never said I wanted her at IU.

Never said Moren wanted her. 

I was just posting the news that a B1G player was on the move. As far as I know, this thread is not necessarily all about IU. If it is, I will no longer post such news. 

 

[Aaron 4,538]

  On 4/10/2025 at 6:42 PM, TTT said:

Hire Lilly back.  However, there will be someone eventually.  IU Ladies don’t have enough players on the roster yet.  This would make for a scrappy underdog team. Shay is a check (but shooting %s from the other guards are not promising…though Spreen should know how to shoot the ball and or score).  (Stotijin %s not sure I understand how they could be that bad except playing in wrong situation).

I'd rather role with Faith. Her ceiling is much higher and Lily only has one year left. Bringing Lily back does little and with Faith's development, you are no worse off then what Lily brought you except Faith has the talent to be a great big down road and stunting her growth with Lily makes no sense.

To be clear I'd rather find a portal big to start with Faith as backup. However, would rather throw Faith into fire and play big minutes then bringing Lily back which accomplishes nothing.  

[Aaron 4,538]

  On 4/10/2025 at 6:45 PM, LamarCheeks said:

Never said we were getting McMahon.

Never said I thought she was an option.

Never said I wanted her at IU.

Never said Moren wanted her. 

I was just posting the news that a B1G player was on the move. As far as I know, this thread is not necessarily all about IU. If it is, I will no longer post such news. 

 

Fair enough. My bad! I made a mistake. 

[TTT 1,349]

  On 4/10/2025 at 6:47 PM, Aaron said:

I'd rather role with Faith. Her ceiling is much higher and Lily only has one year left. Bringing Lily back does little and with Faith's development, you are no worse off then what Lily brought you except Faith has the talent to be a great big down road and stunting her growth with Lily makes no sense.

To be clear I'd rather find a portal big to start with Faith as backup. However, would rather throw Faith into fire and player big minutes then bringing Lily back which accomplishes nothing.  

I agree and am expecting a big saying there will be someone eventually.

You are staying positive.  Good job.

[mickey one 104]

Sharnecce's new team values her highly. Murray State had a lot of success last year and got into the NCAA tournament. Hopefully, Sharnecce can keep them on this winning path: https://goracers.com/news/2025/4/7/womens-basketball-currie-jelks-joins-racers-for-2025-26

[ronzo4IU 424]

  On 4/10/2025 at 8:29 PM, mickey one said:

Sharnecce's new team values her highly. Murray State had a lot of success last year and got into the NCAA tournament. Hopefully, Sharnecce can keep them on this winning path: https://goracers.com/news/2025/4/7/womens-basketball-currie-jelks-joins-racers-for-2025-26

 

[ronzo4IU 424]

  On 4/10/2025 at 8:53 PM, ronzo4IU said:

 

I always wondered why she never got even a little bit of playing time here? I guess I thought she was always injured.

[mickey one 104]

I though Sofilkanich could be a good addition, and would redeem a lot of recruiting fails, BUT she is headed to Michigan: https://www.michigandaily.com/sports/womens-basketball/bucknell-forward-ashley-sofilkanich-transfers-to-michigan/

[Claxdj01 66]

I’m assuming Moore McNeil, Garzon, Striplin, and Lemondola all had some sort of NIL money. And I’d guess Parrish had a pretty decent deal. With all of them, where did the money that was allocated to them go?

[LamarCheeks 22,140]

Bucknell transfer Ashley Sofilkanich has committed to Michigan -- per Talia Goodman.

The 6-3 sophomore averaged 19.7 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 3 apg and 2.2 bpg this season.

Not sure how good she is, but on paper -- it looks as if a B1G rival picks up a nice piece. 

 

[BA47591 1,043]

Whatever TCU is doing we need to do. 

As far as Coach Knight. If he was a young man, as he was in the 70's, he couldve generated a fortune. If he was in his 50s he would've pulled a Jay Wright. He could fund raise like no other, he just wouldn't sink so low as to pay college kids. 

[TTT 1,349]

Waiting for Williams/Wisky