Learned A lot, New WBB World

I mean, yeah, this is the reality facing all programs.
I still maintain that the move to the WCC was the main catalyst for the departures, but it certainly didn't help that some of the players could go right to power conference programs with big NIL deals at the ready. I just doubt that all the departing players got big deals.
And, as I've brought up before, did they even give Oregon State related NIL groups a chance to counter? Doesn't seem so. Seems like they wanted out and that was that.

Interesting that she said recruiting is now less about building personal relationships and is now more transactional, with money and the right situation/playing time being the most important factors for many. Sounds like pro sports.

It is FAR worse than pro sports IMHO. Most pro contracts allow teams control over their players for a length of time and some control in them leaving and in many cases compensation if they sign or get traded. A pro coach may have a front office making decisions, some they do not agree with, but there are rules governing contracts and trades etc. College athletics now basically has no rules, and would actually be better off if NIL contracts were indeed binding... until a degree is earned or some other benchmark. And, that 3rd parties were NOT allowed to be involved. Might as well make them university run and each school deciding how and how much to invest. If they do not want to "compete" with the top 40-60 "big boys" so be it, but at least then it would be a university policy and the pretense of trying to keep up the Jones' would be over.

In college none of that exists. NIL deals are exaggerated to the public, yet in many cases not completely fulfilled, or "enough" to keep players longer than one season. A coach has zero control over most NIL collectives and their ultimate direction and control. One of the scariest aspects to me is not just the collectives in general, but the hypocrisy that they are run by outside "volunteers" that basically can control a program/coach by the decisions they make.... the "who" and "how much" is basically no different than the old time boosters funneling money to players.

And, the same with player defections while receiving no guaranteed compensation. Schools, programs, coaches have zero control on who leaves. And while they do have the opportunity in the portal there is no way to assure "equal" or even partial compensation. In fact schools with higher admission standards for incoming transfers are at another disadvantage.

NIL will soon be controlled by the institutions. Amazing that programs losing $2 million a year and up will be able to offer anything, much less the 6-figure sums that are bandied around. LSU's WBB program lost $8 million last season.