WBB Gossip

Transfers are becoming a integral part of college WBB. Last I heard, there were over 500 in the transfer portal this off season, and we're only a few weeks in. A team like Oregon, who lost their point guard, could find one in the portal, and if they are a grad transfer, can come in and play right away.

Recruiting in one way to build your team, but Louisville is showing that you can also rebuild through transfers. One positive about a transfer is that in many cases, you have their history of play at the college level to get an idea of what they may contribute to your team.

I just wish there were some hard and fast rules and that these certain exceptions, for certain athletes and certain schools were equitably handled. It is becoming a hornets nest, and the NCAA is shifting back and forth based only on a programs legal team and the athletic issue. Academics, as part of the Student Athlete ideal, are tossed around as an afterthought.
I am specifically addressing the shaky lines drawn for immediate eligibility and granting extra eligibility. Some of the situations being accepted are now being constructed by the schools legal team and can range from, ' my health was affected due to the geographic change ( translated to I want to go to a better program where I can play more and earn a big Professional contract), to, The coach is 'mean and hurts my feelings',
( which really means I was contacted by another school and they offered me a better scholarship due to free athletic gear and they play on TV more often).
Serious attention to the Academic side of the 'equation' is not even part of the discussion.
The actual 'use and abuse' of these decisions needs to be investigated ( not by the NCAA ), because I understand that the grad transfer opportunity is a program, where a very high percentage of kids never start or complete the coursework that they were using to justify the transfer. I mean, why would Minyon Moore transfer from USC to go to uo ? That is like saying, uo is better for me Academically or that they have a program that is more valuable to my Professional career. Sorry, I find that laughable.

The money doesn't come from the fans. They don't really draw many fans. The teams are subsedized by corporate sponsors or cities. One of the better paying teams was owned by a Russian Billionaire. Players were paid large salaries, given free apartments and cars for their use etc. He even paid Diana Taurasi's WNBA salary one year just so she could take the season to rest. 

The US players over seas are usually better than the foreign players but they have a limit to how many can be carried by each team. That is why some US players apply for citizenship from the countries they play in. I believe Becky Hammond became a Russian citizen. The thing is that their are far more professional leagues spread all over the world. Some leagues are better than others and their salaries are therefor better. There are enough leagues and teams available that any US player who has had a modicum of success can find a job. Sort of like the number of minor league baseball team that existed in the forties and fifties. Every town seemed to have a team. But the lower leagues pay very little but for women who like the game they can have the experience while living in a foreign. 
country. It's not a bad gig for a few years even if you don't make a lot of money. 

For  example the frosh guard that left Oregon last season decided not to come back to college but played professional instead. Diamond Desheilds did the same a few years ago when she quite Tenn before her graduation. 

I only have a little information to add. I was friends with a player, Bec Brincat, on Portland's short lived women's professional team. This was in about 2003 - 2005. She was Australian and when I knew her she played parts of the year in Germany, England and Greece (I think). I don't think she played in the top tier of Europe but I'm not sure. She said she would get about $500/week during the season along with a car and an apartment. She had an undergrad business degree from Australia and I know she had some opportunities to do business work for sponsors or businesses arranged by the teams. I did see her in a summer league game against college players and it seemed like a varsity player going against the JV's. Sometime in the last 10 years or so she has received Maltese citizenship and is the captain of their national team. She's still playing in her forties and has a couple children.

I agree about the graduate transfer rule, it is a good idea.

I also agree with the concerns that ncaa has in regards to undergrad transfers.  The problem is when they allow some players to play at certain schools when they obviously shouldn't be.  The last few years have seen a remarkable increase in the number of transfers.   

Ok. That makes sense. Advertising for the brand. Like the local business outfitting the Little League teams with Bob's Auto Repair on the jerseys. Or buying a sign on the outfield fence

Thanks

I don't know if I can find the stats again, however, some few years ago ( 3 or 4 ) , in men's basketball - only 10% , or so, actually completed their Graduate program and received the degree that they were granted that extra year for. Maybe it's improved - or with anything else, it could be that the women are actually complying with the original intent of the program..The men, not so much. Follow the money !